How are yawns contageous?

Question

Have you ever noticed that someone yawning in close proximity to you makes you yawn straight awayand vice versa?

Answer 1

A good point made by Moi above
a yawn in pre history meant compliance and was common to submissive behaviour towards the alpha male and female when the cerebral cortex was at its youngest (aprox 2million years ago) and man was just discovering close knit family groups as apposed to the groups it had previously existed in (chimp like gatherings with a violent hiearchy).This is common to other animals too including gorrillas and felines.They too show signs of submission towards a dominant by yawning.So in conclusion the yawn itself is a psycho-samatic sign of belonging to a long dead existance left over from the dawn of time.

the human race is still full of these anomalies:
Why is men still have to pee up something?(marking of territory)
why is it when you start to whistle someone within earshot will instinctively start doing the same?(pre-historical communication)

Answer 2

Well, i thought that was a great question, and had a quick surf because I was genuinely interested in the answer! And all I found out is that 40 - 60% of people find yawning contagious, be it seeing a yawn or thinking about a yawn (Yes I am yawning!!). It was said that it was to dispell carbon dioxide from the body, but that was dismissed.

Something to do with being self-aware - Schizophrenics sometimes have trouble beign self aware so they will not find yawning contagious and babies dont find it contagious either.

Dogs, reptiles, chimps etc all yawn, and whilst they find it contagious, we dont if they do it to us!

Will be interested in some of the other answers!!

Answer 3

There are some studies that suggest the yawn developed among animals that live in groups to signal to each other that it is time to bed down for the night. Chimpanzees yawn before climbing into the trees to sleep. It may be that we have kept the genetic predisposition to share this communication with our fellow primates.

Answer 4

That's true. For some reason, when somebody yawns, which is a sign of lack of sleep or boredom; the next person who looks at him tend to yawn too.

Answer 5

i became into continuously instructed that we do it to get the greater oxygen, like some people have already reported. yet we don't do it cos we would desire to, we do it cos it feels good. you spot somebody else yawn and you physique thinks it is going to experience good if it does too. people often replicate one yet another, at first on an evolutionary point by skill of mirroring somebody you teach much less agression or sumbission. animals will often the two replicate one yet another of attack one yet another, the two being submissive or dominant. yet another college of concept is that once somebody else does some thing eg yawn or cough, it then turns into socially perfect to do it, you weren't the frist subsequently no longer the worst. in case you like a good occasion of individuals mirroring eachother bypass to the flicks. anticipate it to cool down, then in basic terms previously the action picture starts loudly sparkling your throat. see what number people right away do it too.

Answer 6

I heard yawns are caused by lack of oxygen in the air. So everyone in that enviroment my feel the urge to yawn.

Answer 7

we yawn threw lack of oxygen so if others are in close proximity there is less air to go round

Answer 8

No but I've noticed when it's fake and done as a psychological dig. I figure if that's the extent of the particular individual .... well! Then that means he's his own worst enemy! Swelly.

Answer 9

all u have to do is think of yawning and that will answer yer question. next question

Answer 10

A form of mass hysteria