Notes on Kissing
The word "kiss" comes from the Old English "cyssan" (to kiss), in turn from "coss" (a kiss), and is defined as "touching with the lips." For most of the Western world, kissing is a form of affection. This is unlike other parts of the world where kissing is seen as a form of respecting others.
As an expression of romantic affection or sexual desire, kissing involves two people touching one another on the lips, usually with much more intensity, and for a considerably longer period of time. In more passionate kissing, couples may open their mouths, such on each other's lips, or move their tongues into each other's mouths. Sexual kissing may also involve one person kissing another on various parts of the body.
Kissing is a complex behavior that requires significant muscular coordination - a total of twenty muscles must work cooperatively in order to kiss someone. The most important muscle involved is the orbicularis oris muscle, which is the muscle that puckers the lips, and is known as the kissing muscle. The tongue may also be an important part of the kiss, but it is not necessary.
Anthropologists are confused as to where human beings learned kissing. Is it even a learned technique, or are humans simply born with the knowledge of it? What exactly is a kiss, aside from a touch on the lips?
Drawing on my own personal experience, I can say that a kiss means something different with each person. In the tragic event I am forced to call my first kiss, it was empty of emotion and full of sexual desire. The second boy I ever kissed, my best friend, was a promise of friendship and a sign of mutual platonic love. It was merely on the lips, but it was quite obvious he loved me. I was his little sister, after all.
The third kiss started with emotion - pent up sexual frustration, nervousness, perhaps some minor form of love, happiness, and other such joyous feelings. They gradually disappeared, only to be replaced with sexual desire and want, and his body reflected that. I'm quite sure he would have asked me to strip for him, had I not made it clear I would kill him for saying so.
The fourth I've not had time to analyse. They are short, and rather like the second, though I am dating this boy I am kissing, unlike before. There is definitely a "friendshippy love" in our kisses, but also hints of a "love love," though I may be reading too much into it. They are fun and sweet and comforting, always given at the right time, and always right. I like these kinds of kisses. There may be sexual desire in them - of course, the boy is only human, and I have been told by the insane that I am "hot" and "sexy" - but it is hidden well. It makes no appearance, and I like that, because then his kisses make me more comfortable.
The lips are one of the most sensitive organs on the body, which explains why babies put things in their mouths and mommies kiss their children's foreheads to check for fevers (unless they prefer shoving a thermometer down their child's throat.) They are important to our sense of touch, and in a way, it makes sense that kisses are between the lips. Not all kisses are, however. An Eskimo kiss consists of a couple rubbing their noses together; and a butterfly kiss occurs when two people brush their eyelashes on each other's cheeks. I prefer lip-to-lip kissing, as it is just more personal; however, I quite enjoy what can be an intimate kiss, such as kisses on the head, in the hair, on the cheek or hand or shoulder or neck.
To avoid a clashing of noses when kissing, one of the couple will usually tilt their head to the side. In an effort to keep balance, sometimes the couples wrap arms around each other, thereby combining kissing and hugging in a super form of affection.
Perhaps human beings would not have gotten anywhere with kissing. Used as a form of affection, respect, comfort (especially to children), and foreplay, kissing is quite important in a person's social development. Perhaps it is like being born without a sense of touch - it is impossible to survive without it.
As an expression of romantic affection or sexual desire, kissing involves two people touching one another on the lips, usually with much more intensity, and for a considerably longer period of time. In more passionate kissing, couples may open their mouths, such on each other's lips, or move their tongues into each other's mouths. Sexual kissing may also involve one person kissing another on various parts of the body.
Kissing is a complex behavior that requires significant muscular coordination - a total of twenty muscles must work cooperatively in order to kiss someone. The most important muscle involved is the orbicularis oris muscle, which is the muscle that puckers the lips, and is known as the kissing muscle. The tongue may also be an important part of the kiss, but it is not necessary.
Anthropologists are confused as to where human beings learned kissing. Is it even a learned technique, or are humans simply born with the knowledge of it? What exactly is a kiss, aside from a touch on the lips?
Drawing on my own personal experience, I can say that a kiss means something different with each person. In the tragic event I am forced to call my first kiss, it was empty of emotion and full of sexual desire. The second boy I ever kissed, my best friend, was a promise of friendship and a sign of mutual platonic love. It was merely on the lips, but it was quite obvious he loved me. I was his little sister, after all.
The third kiss started with emotion - pent up sexual frustration, nervousness, perhaps some minor form of love, happiness, and other such joyous feelings. They gradually disappeared, only to be replaced with sexual desire and want, and his body reflected that. I'm quite sure he would have asked me to strip for him, had I not made it clear I would kill him for saying so.
The fourth I've not had time to analyse. They are short, and rather like the second, though I am dating this boy I am kissing, unlike before. There is definitely a "friendshippy love" in our kisses, but also hints of a "love love," though I may be reading too much into it. They are fun and sweet and comforting, always given at the right time, and always right. I like these kinds of kisses. There may be sexual desire in them - of course, the boy is only human, and I have been told by the insane that I am "hot" and "sexy" - but it is hidden well. It makes no appearance, and I like that, because then his kisses make me more comfortable.
The lips are one of the most sensitive organs on the body, which explains why babies put things in their mouths and mommies kiss their children's foreheads to check for fevers (unless they prefer shoving a thermometer down their child's throat.) They are important to our sense of touch, and in a way, it makes sense that kisses are between the lips. Not all kisses are, however. An Eskimo kiss consists of a couple rubbing their noses together; and a butterfly kiss occurs when two people brush their eyelashes on each other's cheeks. I prefer lip-to-lip kissing, as it is just more personal; however, I quite enjoy what can be an intimate kiss, such as kisses on the head, in the hair, on the cheek or hand or shoulder or neck.
To avoid a clashing of noses when kissing, one of the couple will usually tilt their head to the side. In an effort to keep balance, sometimes the couples wrap arms around each other, thereby combining kissing and hugging in a super form of affection.
Perhaps human beings would not have gotten anywhere with kissing. Used as a form of affection, respect, comfort (especially to children), and foreplay, kissing is quite important in a person's social development. Perhaps it is like being born without a sense of touch - it is impossible to survive without it.