Many people don't realize kissing is culturally contingent. In a study of 168 cultures, researchers found evidence of romantic kissing in 77 societies, but none in 91 others. In other words, there was no romantic kissing in 54 percent of the societies studied. Many of these cultures even consider kissing "gross."

The study's co-author, Justin Garcia, said, "It's a reminder that behaviors that seem so normative to us often do not occur in the rest of the world. Not only that, but they might be viewed as strange."

Try Other Cultures' Kisses

Mexico

• Clasp right hands, like a handshake, and place your left hand on their right shoulder.
• Kiss each other's right cheeks at the same time

New Zealand

• Press nose and forehead against each other and share a breath of air

France

• Lean in close, placing right cheeks against each other
• Pucker up and kiss the air
• In some regions, they do a second air kiss on the left side

Inuit

• Lightly press your noses together

Thailand

• Press closed lips to someone's cheek and inhale deeply