Kissing
Kissing is a common human behavior that involves the act of pressing one's lips against another person or an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sexual attraction, sexual activity, sexual arousal, affection, respect, greeting, friendship, peace, and good luck, among many others. In some situations, a kiss is a ritual, formal or symbolic gesture indicating devotion, respect, or sacrament.
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The word comes from Old English cyssan (“to kiss”), in turn from coss (“a kiss”).
Anthropology[edit | edit source]
The act of kissing has been studied in the field of Anthropology. Anthropologists are divided into two schools on the origins of kissing, one believing that it is instinctual and intuitive, having evolved from activities like suckling, others suggesting it evolved from checking the health of a potential mate via inspecting their saliva.
Biology[edit | edit source]
In the field of Biology, there are a number of theories that attempt to explain the act of kissing and its origins. Some theories suggest that kissing may have evolved from the practice of pre-mastication, or the act of a mother chewing food for her children.
Cultural variations[edit | edit source]
Kissing in different cultures is varied. In some cultures, it is a common form of greeting among friends, while in others it is only used in an intimate context.
Health effects[edit | edit source]
Kissing has a number of potential health benefits and risks. It can help to strengthen the immune system, but it can also spread certain diseases.
In other animals[edit | edit source]
Kissing behavior is not exclusive to humans. Many animals exhibit similar behaviors, often as a form of social bonding or grooming.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
- Why do we kiss? - BBC News
| Kissing Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
