Kissin' Cousins -

While the "inbred" stereotype is common in media, scientific research offers a more nuanced view of the risks.

These videos explore the cultural history and linguistic nuances of 'kissing cousins': Kissing Cousins | Ancestral Findings Podcast YouTube · Ancestral Findings Kissin' Cousins

: Throughout much of human history, marrying cousins was common to preserve wealth, maintain social status, or secure political alliances. An estimated 80% of all historical marriages were between first or second cousins. While the "inbred" stereotype is common in media,

: Elvis Presley famously starred in the 1964 musical film Kissin' Cousins , where the title track lightheartedly suggests that a "distant cousin" is fair game for romance. : Elvis Presley famously starred in the 1964

: In the 19th-century U.S., a shift began as medical and religious authorities began associating cousin marriage with "idiocy" and genetic defects. This led to many states enacting bans that remain today; 30 states currently prohibit first-cousin marriage.

: For first cousins, the risk increases to roughly 6%. While this is a doubling of the baseline, some researchers argue it is not as high as public stigma suggests.