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Fellatio

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science
  • 77 Accesses

Synonyms

Blow job; Oral sex

Definition

The oral stimulation of the penis, especially to orgasm.

Introduction

“Fellatio” is defined as the oral stimulation of the penis, especially to orgasm. The word derives from the Latin “fellatus,” meaning “to suck.” Fellatio is a common form of foreplay in sexual relationships as well as a sexual end in itself. The practice has been documented in animals, in ancient societies, and in contemporary primitive societies, strongly implying that it has some form of evolutionary benefit.

Flying foxes and fruit bats have been documented to engage in fellatio, with sex lasting longer between fruit bats if the male is first fellated (Tan et al. 2009). The Indian Kama Sutra, written in the first century AD, explores the subject of fellatio in considerable detail. The author believed that it was commonly practiced by promiscuous women, that it was a ritually unclean practice, and that those who were known to engage it in were often shunned by civilized...

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References

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Correspondence to Edward Dutton .

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Dutton, E. (2018). Fellatio. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1712-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1712-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

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