Many people gag or vomit in response to others vomiting. Is it the sight, sound or smell? Could there be a selective advantage? If a tribe member of yours ate/drank something that induced vomiting, then maybe it would behoove you to vomit too?
2007-01-01 03:18:36 · 5 answers · asked by ivorytowerboy 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
It's not contagious. It is what's known as a sympathetic reaction. Kind of like when someone yawns, it can make others around them also yawn.
2007-01-01 03:22:49 · answer #1 · answered by RepoMan18 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is more psychology than biology in the "contagious" nature of humans. Although there may be a sense trigger which initially causes a reaction, the trigger needs to get to the brain to be processed, where it is translated into what we perceive it to be. From there, we either react in accordance to the event or break the cycle as it gets to us. There is no real scientific evidence establishing the "contagious" nature of seeing someone vomit or yawn. If there was, could you imagine the snowball effect it would have? One person vomits, and ten people see it ... then the ten people vomit, and they are surrounded by ten people each ... the cascading effect and the volume of vomit would be too much to handle, even at the janitorial level.
The tribal reference is a cultural aspect, especially seen in mystical rituals and rites of passage. There are some plants which induce vomiting on purpose when ingested (ex. Ilex vomitoria - Yaupon Holly).
2007-01-01 16:07:37 · answer #2 · answered by icehoundxx 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I laughed when I read your question. I'm one of those 'good in a crisis' people. If someone breaks a limb or smashes themselves to the point of bleeding, I'm fine. Vomit in front of me, I'm done! Maybe the smell?
2007-01-01 11:27:57 · answer #3 · answered by PariahMaterial 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its not contagious, but the disease or whatever was in their stomach that their body rejected may be.
I think its just a reaction of like horror. You see something unpleasent happen to someone and you don't want it to happen to you so you start thinking you're gonna do it (stupid aint it?)
2007-01-01 11:33:35 · answer #4 · answered by ukcufs 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it might be they're claustrophobic, or it might be they're sick with the flu and the other people get it fast...
2007-01-01 11:21:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋