Kissing: How to Kiss, Types, Benefits

Kissing – As humans we share a lot of verbal and non-verbal gestures with someone we love, respect, or care about. One of these gestures is Kissing. While our parents kiss us to show support, care, and love, couples use kisses to make the bond more comfortable, and longer, to show love, care and sometimes for sexual intimacy.

In this article, we will reflect upon the cultural, and historical context of kissing, the types of kisses, and the science behind it, and will deal with some misconceptions and taboos in societies around kissing.

What is Kissing?

Kissing is considered as an expression of love, affection, care, and respect. In many societies, it is common to kiss someone in public settings. But it may be considered as perverted behavior.

Historical and cultural context

While there are many views possible when it comes to the history and origin of kissing, there are predominantly two popular views as follows:

Kiss Feeding: early humans used to feed their children by transferring or passing the chewed food directly to their baby’s mouth.
Accidental: Early humans used to identify each other by smelling each others’ cheeks and accidentally it turned into a kiss.

Vedic text of ancient India (back around 1500 BC), also seems to talk about it, and the 3rd Century AD’s Kama Sutra has given an entire chapter to modes of kissing.^[1]

Kissing is viewed differently in different cultures and societies around the globe. In some cultures, particularly European countries, a kiss on the hand is a sign of respect. While some indigenous communities associate kissing with worship.

According to the American Anthropological Association’s Worldwide Culture Study, 2015: Romantic kissing exists only in 46% of the global population. ^[2] While it is most common in the Middle East and Asia, it is least common in Central America and Sub-Saharan Africa. So, the culture of kiss depends on the historical context and its evolution over time. It is important for everyone to check the comfort level and consent of the other person before trying to kiss them.

Types of Kisses

Kiss of any type is a gesture to show some kind of emotion to the other person. There are many types of kisses from parental kisses to partner’s kisses. Some of them are as follows:

Forehead kiss: It is a kind of kiss which is gentle and is usually done to show care and support.
Cheek Kiss: Kissing someone on the cheek signifies a friendly gesture and love.
Butterfly Kiss: It is done by placing and moving one’s eyelashes up against the other person’s skin, like on cheeks, eyelids, or nose. It signifies a sense of playfulness between both.
Lip Kiss: Lip kissing can be gentle and as passionate and romantic as a smooch. It shows love, passion, and physical intimacy.
French Kiss: Most popular among all types of kisses, French kiss is considered the most passionate kiss. It is a long kiss involving the movement of the tongue, signifying love, passion, and list.
Lizard Kiss: This kiss only involves the use of the tongue, making an in and out movement of each other’s mouth.
Spiderman Kiss: A unique kind of kiss, popular in Hollywood movies. This involves one partner who’s upside down and the other is required to lean in for the kiss.
Neck or Body Kisses: To make your partner sexually aroused this kiss is used, making sensations in them.
Earlobe Kiss: Ear is an erogenous zone for many, so this kiss is done on the earlobe to show affection.
Hand Kiss: To show respect and admiration, a kiss on the hand is ideal.

Read Also: How do girls masturbate?

Science behind kissing and it’s relation to Health

Kissing can lead to a release of various hormones such as:

Oxytocin, which is often referred to as “love hormone”.
Dopamine is released when you do something you like and it feels good.
Serotonin lowers cortisol (stress) levels so you feel more relaxed and calm.
Endorphins, called “Happy Hormones” are also released when you genuinely feel happy about something.

Kissing can have several health benefits, some of which are mentioned below: ^[3]^[4]

Boosts Happy Hormones: because of kissing, happy hormones including oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin get released making you feel affectionate and reducing stress levels.
Relieves Stress: Serotonin, a hormone is released while kissing which lowers the cortisol (stress) levels in the body and you feel more relaxed and calm.
Relieves Cramps: when the blood flow increases during kiss, it also helps in relieving cramps.
Boosts Sex Drive: Romantic kisses can lead to sexual arousal because it involves the transfer of testosterone from men to women.
Dilates Blood Vessels: Kissing dilates the body’s blood flow and makes it increase that causes an immediate decrease in your blood pressure, making it good for your heart.
Boosts immune system: There is an exchange of different germs and micro bacteria when you kiss, providing exposure to new germs which strengthen your immune system.
Burns Calories: Kissing involves the movement of numerous facial muscles, leading to the burning of calories. You can burn between 5-26 calories per minute by it.
Helps strengthen the bond: Kissing releases Oxytocin, a hormone associated with building and strengthening bonds, signifying that you are affectionate about the other person, leading to the strengthening of the bond together between both of you.

Besides these benefits kissing someone who is sick or not in good health, can lead to the transfer of many health disorders such as colds, hepatitis B, herpes, and warts. Thus, avoid it in such conditions.

Myths, misconceptions, controversies, and taboos surrounding Kissing

Besides the acceptance of kissing someone, there are several myths around kissing. One of such myth is that kissing spreads bacteria. While it is true but not totally, these bacteria can actually prove to improve the immune system of people engaged in kissing. The saliva exchange during kissing can help in dental problems by preventing the germ from settling in teeth gaps by providing a layer to them. Some of the concerns around the culture of kissing:

While you may think that kisses are a universal sign of love, affection, etc. There are some cultures who totally reject it or partially accept it. There are societies in which kissing someone outside four walls of a room or in public is a Public Display of Affection (PDA). ^[5] The people from such societies totally condemn this act. Some people also think that it is actually a foreign concept which is imposed on us by popular media such as films, series, shows, etc. Making us helpless and shameless.

No matter what society we live in, accepting the changes over time is crucial to survival and people need to understand that kisses are just a sign that people care and matter for each other. But it should also be kept in mind that kissing in a public space, especially when society doesn’t explicitly accept it, should be avoided or limited to an extent that it doesn’t make the other people around you uncomfortable.

Conclusion

Kissing can be a complex but universal gesture of love, care, and respect. It can have layers of historical context, cultural diversity, societal beliefs, scientific understanding, etc. It can prove to be an important tool to convey nonverbal emotions like passion, affection, care, etc. It can have several health benefits. But along with this, there are some taboos attached to it by the society we live in making its acceptance in public spaces difficult. Despite this, cultures are intersecting and evolving with time. When it done with consent and mutual understanding continues to convey your love for someone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What are some of the health benefits of kissing?
Answer: Kissing can relieve stress, boost the immune system, burn calories, relieve cramps, reduce blood pressure, etc.

Question: Does kissing actually burn calories?
Answer: Yes, kissing involves the use of facial muscles, making it a kind of exercise for the muscles thus burning calories. You can burn between 5-26 calories per minute by it.

Question: Why do some people find public displays of affection (PDA) uncomfortable?
Answer: It totally depends on their Socio-cultural background and the exposure they get in society and through popular media. While some see it as a natural way to show love others may find it inappropriate.

Question: Is kissing hygienic or can it spread germs?
Answer: Kissing involves the exchange of bacteria but this can improve the immune system because the body gets exposed to new bacteria. But someone who is sick with cold and flu can spread it to you as well through kiss.

Question: Why do people kiss?
Answer: Kissing is considered as a sign of love, care, and respect for the other person. It makes them feel good and the bond gets strengthened.

References:

Kissing: How to Kiss, Types, Benefits

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