Kiss
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2008-07-16T21:53:03Z
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missing period
{{otheruses1|the romantic act}}
{{redirect|Kisser|for people surnamed Kisser|Kisser (surname)}}
{{redirect6|Butterfly kisses|the album|Butterfly Kisses (album)|the song|Butterfly Kisses (song)}}
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{{Refimprove|date=July 2007}}
[[Image:Francesco Hayez 008.jpg|200px|right|thumb|''The Kiss'' by [[Francesco Hayez]], 19th century.]]
A '''kiss''' is the touching of one person's [[lip (mouth)|lip]]s to another place, which is used as an expression of [[affection]] or to show [[respect]], and as a [[greeting]] or a [[farewell]]; kissing can be used to express romantic affection or [[sex]]ual desire. The word comes from [[Old English language|Old English]] ''cyssan'' "to kiss", in turn from ''coss'' "a kiss". It is generally considered one of the strongest ways to show affection.
==Biology and evolution==
[[Image:Kissing Prairie dog edit 3.jpg|right|thumb|Kissing [[Black-tailed Prairie Dog]]s]]
[[Anthropologist]]s have not reached a consensus as to whether kissing is a learned or an [[instinct]]ive behavior. Kissing may lead to sexual behaviors. It may be related to [[grooming]] behavior also seen between other animals, or arising as a result of mothers [[Mastication|premasticating]] food for their children.<ref>[http://www.langmaker.com/db/Premastication Premastication - Langmaker<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> When [[mammalian]] mothers kiss infants, their bodies automatically recognize biological dangers to their offspring, and their bodies add resistant proteins to their milk. Kissing allows prospective mates to [[smell]] and taste each other's [[pheromone]]s for biological compatibility. [[Women]] are subconsciously more attracted to men whose [[major histocompatibility complex]] portion of their [[genome]] is different from their own, leading to offspring with resistance to a greater number of diseases due to [[heterosis]], and thus having a better chance of survival.<ref>{{cite journal
|title=New evidence that the MHC influences odor perception in humans: a study with 58 Southern Brazilian students.
| last=Santos
| first=PS
| coauthors=Schinemann JA, Gabardo J, Bicalho Mda G.
| year=2005
| journal=Hormones & Behavior
| volume=47
| pages=384–388
| url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15777804
|doi=10.1016/j.yhbeh.2004.11.005}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite journal
| title=MHC-dependent mate preferences in humans
| last=Wedekind
| first=C.
| coauthors=Seebeck, T., Bettens, F. and Paepke, A. J.
| year=1995
| journal=Proceedings: Biological Sciences
| volume=260
| issue=1359
| pages=245–249
| url=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0962-8452(19950622)260%3A1359%3C245%3AMMPIH%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Y
| doi=10.1098/rspb.1995.0087}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web
| title = Why do humans kiss?
| url = http://scienceline.org/2006/10/02/ask-fiore-kiss/
| publisher = Scienceline
| last = Fiore
| first = Kristina
| date = [[October 2]], [[2006]]
}}</ref> This explains why couples are more likely to bond if they have the right "chemistry."{{Fact|date=April 2008}} Also, a study by researchers at [[University at Albany]] found that women use kissing as a tool to find the right father for their children and to judge men on the quality of the first kiss that they share.
Non-human [[primates]] also exhibit kissing behavior.<ref>{{cite news
| title = How animals kiss and make up
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/3183516.stm
| publisher = [[BBC News]]
| date = [[October 13]], [[2003]]
}}</ref> Other than primates there are also animals, particularly many species of [[birds]] that exhibit beak-to-beak and mouth-to-mouth behavior which is typically interpreted by observers as kissing. [[Dogs]], [[cats]], and other animals display [[licking]] and [[social grooming|grooming]] behavior among themselves, but also towards humans or other species. This is sometimes interpreted by observers as a type of kissing, but some may see this as anthropomorphising the actions of animals.
==Kissing as affection in different cultures==
[[Image:1815-regency-proposal-woodcut.gif|thumb|Classic "one-knee" proposal, ca. 1815]]
In modern [[Western culture]], kissing is most commonly an expression of [[affection]]. This is unlike many parts of the world where kissing may have different meanings. Some literatures even suggest that a significant percentage of humanity do not kiss.<ref>[http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=affairs-of-the-lips-why-we-kiss&page=4 Affairs of the Lips: Why We Kiss: Scientific American<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> An anomaly is India, where public kissing was once quite popular, as evidenced by the common portrayal of kissing ''[[apsaras]]'' and people in motifs commonly used around palaces and temples. British rule, and a [[Victorian morality|Victorian]] ethics system pushed public kissing into a taboo act. However, post-independence, public kissing is not uncommon in India.
In [[Middle Eastern]] countries until recent times, kissing was only considered proper when between two men, two women, or parents kissing their children. Kissing was not looked upon as a sexual expression in the Middle East.
In [[Sub Saharan Africa]]n, [[Asiatic]], [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] and [[Polynesian]] cultures, kissing was relatively unknown until introduced by [[Europe]]an and Western influence.<ref name=times>{{citeweb|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article531696.ece|title=Put your sweet lips...|author=Keith Thomas|publisher=''[[The Times]]''|date=2005-06-11|accessdate=2008-05-25}}</ref>
With the Andamanese, kissing was only used as a sign of affection towards children and had no sexual undertones.<ref>[http://www.andaman.org/BOOK/chapter9/text9.htm Chapter: 9: A Traditional Society<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
A kiss between a mathematician and a librarian is known in some cultures as a "super-kiss." These kisses are more are said to be 'more passionate, more pure,' than all other kisses. (See Princess Bride in [[popular culture]], below. The fictional characters Wesley and Buttercup are supposed to surpass this super-kiss, an example of [[hyperbole]].
In Eastern European countries until recent times, kissing between two men on the lips as a greeting or a farewell was as normal as the modern Western handshake {{Fact|date=April 2008}}. This custom has nearly died out due to Western influence.
In the past, kissing wasn't considered sexual in [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] and [[Muslim]] countries.
[[Image:Sa Pa kiss.jpg|thumb|left|A Vietnamese romantic kiss]]
Between people of close acquaintance, a [[Reciprocity (social psychology)|reciprocal]] kiss often is offered as a [[greeting]] or [[farewell]]. This kind of kiss is typically made by brief contact of puckered lips to the skin of the [[Cheek kissing|cheek]] or no contact at all, and merely performed in the air near the cheek with the cheeks touching. Such kissing is a common greeting in European and Latin American countries between a [[man]] and a [[woman]] or between two women but also by two men in parts of [[Europe]], the [[Middle East]] and [[Latin America]], such as [[Argentina]]. However, in most Western societies, it is often more acceptable for women to kiss each other than for men to kiss each other. People sometimes kiss children to comfort them or show affection, and vice versa. This usually takes place on the forehead or cheek.
As an expression of romantic affection or kissing involves two people pressing their lips together, usually with much more intensity, and for a considerably longer period of time. In more passionate kissing couples may open their mouths, suck on each other's lips or move their [[tongue]]s into each others' mouths (see [[French kiss]]). Sexual kissing may also involve one person kissing another on various parts of the body (see [[Foreplay]]).
In some countries [[kissing booth]]s exist; often at carnivals a person kisses people for money.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/28/Pasco/A_fundraiser_in_the_b.shtml Pasco: A fund-raiser in the buff<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20050927/kissingbears_albertazoo_20050927/20050927?hub=TopStories CTV.ca | Alberta's bear-kissing booth back in business<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In recent years there has been a rise in eccentric shaped kissing, the most popular of which is the square kiss,<ref>http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=5851593868</ref> involving contorting the lips to a square pucker. Square kissing is most prominent in [[Glasgow]] and the surrounding areas.
== The anatomy of kissing ==
Kissing is a complex [[behavior]] that requires significant muscular [[coordination (physiology)|coordination]]; in fact, a total of thirty-four to thirty-six [[muscle]]s working cooperatively. The most important [[muscle]] involved is the [[orbicularis oris muscle]], which is used to pucker the [[lip]]s and informally known as the ''kissing muscle''. The tongue can also be an extremely important part of the kiss. Lips have many nerve endings so they are sensitive to touch and bite.
== Kissing body parts ==
Kissing lips is common, as are other body parts such as the [[cheek]]s, [[forehead]], [[neck]], [[hand]], etc. Kissing the hand is common practice when [[Proposal of marriage|proposing marriage]]. Intimate and passionate kissing of private body parts is common during [[foreplay]].
== Symbolic kissing ==
A kiss can be "blown" using actions of the hand and the mouth. One person kisses their fingers and then pretends to blow it to the other person. This is used to convey affection, usually when parting or when the partners are physically distant but can view each other. Blown kisses are also used when a person wishes to convey affection to a large crowd or audience. In written correspondence a kiss has been represented by the letter 'X' since at least 1763.<ref>{{cite web | title = Oxford English Dictionary - X| publisher = Oxford University press | date= 1999 | url = http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50288416 | accessdate = 2007-02-01}}</ref>
== Screen kiss ==
[[Image:Tyrone power alice faye ragtime5.jpg|thumb|240px|[[Tyrone Power]] kisses [[Alice Faye]] in [[Alexander's Ragtime Band (film)|Alexander's Ragtime Band]] ([[1938 in film|1938]])]]
A '''screen kiss''' is one portrayed in a [[film]] (the equivalent act in a [[Play (theatre)|play]] is known as a '''[[stage (theatre)|stage]] kiss'''). The [[plot (narrative)|plot]] of a film or play may involve [[Fictional character|characters]] falling in [[Romantic love|love]] with each other, but the [[actor]]s playing the roles might not have any [[personal relationship]] with each other whatsoever, though it has been known to happen that real-life lovers will star in films together.
Stage and or screen kissing may be performed by actually kissing, or by creating the illusion of actual contact. Methods involved in the faking of a stage/screen kiss include using one's thumbs as a barrier for the lips, and turning so that the respective audience is unable to fully see the kiss itself.
==Disease transmission==
Diseases which may be transmitted via kissing include [[Infectious mononucleosis|mononucleosis]] and [[herpes]], in which the infectious organism is present in saliva. Research indicates that contraction of [[HIV]] via kissing is extremely unlikely, however a woman has been infected with HIV by kissing in 1997; both the woman and infected man had gum disease (so transmission was through the man's blood, not saliva).<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D07EFD91139F932A25754C0A961958260 Case of H.I.V. Transmission Is First to Be Linked to Kiss - New York Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Notable kisses==
===In history===
* At the Diocleia [[festival]] at [[Megara]] in honour of [[Diocles]], lover of [[Philolaus]], a kissing contest was held in which boys would kiss a male judge, who awarded a [[laurel wreath]] to the boy he deemed the best kisser.<ref>[[Theocritus]], Idyll 12:30</ref>
* The Romans distinguished three types of kiss: ''osculum'', a friendship kiss on the cheek; ''basium'', a kiss of affection on the lips; and ''suavium'' (also known as savium), a lovers' deep kiss.
* [[Lord Nelson]], British naval commander, famously requested "Kiss me, [[Sir Thomas Hardy, 1st Baronet|Hardy]]", as he lay dying (although they were not, as often reported, his last words).
===In religion===
[[Image:PopeKissing Feet.JPG|thumb|right|150px|''und Antichristi'', by [[Lucas Cranach the Elder|Cranach]]. This woodcut of the practice of kissing the Pope's toe is from ''Passionary of the Christ and Antichrist''.]]
* [[Muslims]] may kiss the [[Black Stone]] during [[Hajj]] (pilgrimage to Mecca).
* In the [[Gospels#Canonical Gospels| gospels of Matthew and Mark]] (Luke and [[Omissions in the Gospel of John| John omit]] this) [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] betrayed [[Jesus]] with a [[The kiss of Judas|kiss]]—an incongruous instance of a kiss intertwined with betrayal.
* The ''[[holy kiss]]'' or ''kiss of peace'' is a traditional part of most Christian liturgies, though usually replaced with a handshake today in Western cultures
* The [[pope]] will kiss the ground on arrival to a new country.
* Visitors to the pope traditionally kiss his ring.
* [[Jews]] will kiss the Western wall of the Holy Temple in [[Jerusalem]], and other religious articles during [[prayer]] such as the [[Torah]], usually by touching their hand, [[Tallit|Tallis]], or [[Siddur]] (prayerbook) to the [[Torah]] and then kissing it. [[Halakha|Jewish law]] prohibits kissing members of the opposite sex, except for certain close relatives. See [[Negiah]].
* [[Eastern Orthodox]] Christians often kiss the icons around the church as entering, they will also kiss the cross and / or the priests hand in certain other customs in the Church, such as confession or receiving a blessing.
* [[Catholics]] will kiss [[rosary beads]] as a part of [[prayer]], or kiss their hand after making the [[sign of the cross]]. It is also common to kiss the wounds on a crucifix, or any other image of Christ's Passion.
* [[Hindus]] and [[Sikhs]] sometimes kiss the ground of a [[temple]].
===In folklore===
* Both the [[fairytales]] "[[Sleeping Beauty]]" and "[[Snow White]]", and the Greek myth of [[Pygmalion (mythology)|Pygmalion]] and [[Galatea (mythology)|Galatea]], a romantic kiss is used by a male to awaken or breathe life into a female.
* In modern American versions of the fairytale "[[The Frog Prince (story)|Frog Prince]]", it is the male who is transformed into the prince from the frog kissed by the beautiful female princess.
* It is commonly believed in Ireland that kissing the [[Blarney Stone]] will result in being blessed with the 'gift of the gab', which is the ability to talk one's way out of trouble.
===In art===
[[Image:The Kiss (Auguste Rodin).JPG|thumb|[[Auguste Rodin]]'s ''[[The Kiss (Rodin sculpture)|The Kiss]]''.]]
* Works entitled ''The Kiss'' were painted by [[Gustav Klimt]], [[Francesco Hayez]] and [[Edvard Munch]].
* [[Auguste Rodin]] created the sculpture ''[[The Kiss (Rodin sculpture)|The Kiss]]'' (''Le Baiser'').
* ''[http://www.photo.fr/portfolios/therond/index3.html The Kiss]'' (1931) is a photograph by [[Man Ray]].
* [[Andy Warhol]] made an avant-garde film, ''the kiss'', closeups of couples kissing.
===In film===
* ''[[The Kiss (1896 film)|The Kiss]]'', an 1896 short film, features the first known screen kiss, a forty-seven second recreation of a stage kiss from the musical ''[[The Widow Jones]]''. The movie was considered scandalous at the time of its release but has since entered film history as one of the most memorable early films.
* ''[[The Kid (1921 film)|The Kid]]'' is a 1921 film, in which a [[tramp]], [[Charlie Chaplin]], kisses a [[child]], [[Jackie Coogan]]. This scene is the first in film history in which a man kisses a boy on the mouth.
* Chaplin also employed the "insulting kiss" in at least one film, a device that [[Bugs Bunny]] would later copy, countless times, to distract [[Elmer Fudd]] and other threatening characters.
* In the 1955 animated film ''[[Lady and the Tramp]]'', the canine characters [[Lady]] and [[Tramp]] unexpectedly kiss while simultaneously eating a [[spaghetti]] [[noodle]] from opposite ends, their lips meeting in the middle. Homages to and [[parody|parodies]] of this scene have appeared in several movies, including ''[[Hot Shots! Part Deux]]''.
* In ''[[The Princess Bride]]'', the narrator comments on Westley and Buttercup's kiss: "Since the invention of the kiss, there have been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind."
* In the 1989 animated Disney film, ''[[The Little Mermaid]]'', [[Sebastian (The Little Mermaid)|Sebastian]] sings "Kiss the Girl" to [[Ariel (The Little Mermaid)|Ariel]] and [[Prince Eric]] in an attempt to break the spell that was cast upon her which prevented her from speaking.
*In ''[[The Godfather: Part II]]'', [[Michael Corleone]] gives, in [[Havana]], an unnaturally aggressive kiss on the mouth to his brother [[Fredo Corleone|Fredo]], effectively telling him that he is disowned from the family because he betrayed its interests. Michael later has Fredo killed.
===In theatre===
*In [[William Shakespeare|William Shakespeare's]] play ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'', Romeo first greets Juliet with an exchange of metaphors stating that he wants to kiss her. Romeo starts by comparing Juliet to a shrine that his "unworthiest hands" are defiling by touching, and his lips to "two blushing pilgrims" who want to make it up to her. Juliet retorts that Romeo, as a pilgrim, should not degrade his hands as "hand-to-hand is holy palmers kiss," meaning they Juliet (saint) and Romeo (pilgrim) can "kiss" hand to hand. Romeo asks why pilgrims and saints can't use their lips, and Juliet responds that saints must use them in prayer. Romeo then gets his kisses by saying that their lips should do what praying hands do (come together). Juliet gives in, but playing the saint, she will not move. It is a very romantic scene truly portraying the "kiss" in a sophisticated light that redeems the qualities that have been added somewhat negatively to the action today.
===In photography===
* [[Alfred Eisenstaedt]]'s 1945 LIFE magazine [[V–J day in Times Square|photograph]] of a sailor stamping a masterly kiss on a nurse in [[New York City]]'s [[Times Square]] was taken Aug. 14, 1945, [[V-J Day]]. This photo is considered one of Times Square's most iconic photographs<ref> [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=474893&in_page_id=1766 Daily Mail, 13 August 2007, Accessed 7 October 2007]</ref>. In 2007, a Houston forensics expert verified the identity of the sailor as Glenn McDuffie, who had claimed to be the individual in the photo for many years.<ref>[http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/497481,CST-NWS-sailor05.article suntimes.com]</ref>
* The French photographer [[Robert Doisneau]] shot a couple kissing by the Hotel de Ville ([[Paris]]) in 1950. The photo, later called "The Kiss," is now considered a classic, a fact one couple alleging to be the subjects of the photo attempted to exploit in their unsuccessful 1990s lawsuit against the photographer.
* [[Tanya Chalkin]]'s [[Kiss (photograph)|''Kiss'']], a black-and-white photo of two young women embracing, has become something of a pop culture icon in recent years.
==See also==
* [[Air kiss]]
* [[Cheek kissing]]
* [[Eskimo kiss]]
* [[French kiss]]
* [[Hand-kissing]]
* [[Hand shaking]]
* [[Holy kiss]]
* [[Hug]]s
* [[Hugs and Kisses]]
* [[The Kiss of Judas|Judas Kiss]]
* [[:Category:Kissing games|Kissing games]]
* [[Kissing Traditions]]
* [[Making out]]
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==Related links==
{{commonscat|Kisses}}
{{wikiquote|Kissing}}
*[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article531696.ece Put your sweet lips...] (A history of the kiss), Keith Thomas, ''[[The Times]]'', [[June 11]], [[2005]]
*[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/14/opinion/14foer.html?ex=1297573200 The Kiss of Life], Joshua Foer, ''[[New York Times]]'', [[February 14]], [[2006]]
*[http://people.howstuffworks.com/kissing.htm How Kissing Works, History and Anatomy of the Kiss], Tracy V. Wilson, [[Howstuffworks]]
*[http://www.streetkiss.com Kiss in the Street], Etienne Martin, [[StreetArt]]
*[http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=affairs-of-the-lips-why-we-kiss Scientific American] Affairs of the Lips: Why We Kiss
*[http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-famous-kisses.php Famous Kisses] From Judas to Spider-Man
[[Category:Sexual emotions]]
[[Category:Human sexuality]]
[[Category:Interpersonal relationships]]
[[Category:Intimate relationships]]
[[Category:Personal life]]
[[Category:Sexual acts]]
[[als:Kuss]]
[[ar:تقبيل]]
[[ast:Pucu]]
[[be:Пацалунак]]
[[bg:Целувка]]
[[ca:Petó]]
[[cdo:Cṳ̆ng-chói]]
[[cs:Polibek]]
[[cy:Cusan]]
[[da:Kys]]
[[de:Kuss]]
[[el:Φιλί]]
[[eo:Kiso]]
[[es:Beso]]
[[eu:Musu]]
[[fa:بوسه]]
[[fi:Suuteleminen]]
[[fr:Baiser]]
[[fy:Tút]]
[[he:נשיקה]]
[[hr:Poljubac]]
[[hu:Csók]]
[[hy:Համբույր]]
[[is:Koss]]
[[it:Bacio]]
[[iu:ᑯᓂᑉᐳᖅ/kunippuq]]
[[ja:接吻]]
[[ko:입맞춤]]
[[ksh:Buz]]
[[lt:Bučinys]]
[[mk:Бакнеж]]
[[ml:ചുംബനം]]
[[nl:Zoen]]
[[no:Kyss]]
[[uz:Oʻpich]]
[[pdc:Boss]]
[[pl:Pocałunek]]
[[pt:Beijo]]
[[ru:Поцелуй]]
[[scn:Vasata]]
[[simple:Kiss]]
[[sl:Poljub]]
[[sv:Kyss]]
[[uk:Поцілунок]]
[[vi:Hôn]]
[[yi:קוש]]
[[zh:親吻]]