Why are yawns contagious? Is there a trick to avoid "catching" or yawning because someone else just yawned?

Answer 1

yawning means you arnt breathing enough and u have to mush carbon dioxide in your system. if u dont want to yawn breath more often

Answer 2

Actually, from what I understand, the reason yawns are contagious. Is because when a person yawns, they show vulnerability, and by yawning in kind, you send the signal that states that you will not take advantage of their vulnerability. Watch a group where people are nervous, you won't see anyone yawn, and if you do, in all likelihood, few people will yawn in kind.

Answer 3

Nobody knows, studies suggest it may be a very old behavoiur aimed at synchronizing the flock of apes, making them all go asleep or awake at the same time.
Contagoius yawning is common among other animals as well.
It's almost impossible not to "catch" a yawn.

Answer 4

im not sure i guess its because its a thought process and when someone yawns its related to being tired, and then ur brain transmits how tired u are and makes u yawn, not sure. and i guess u could just not look at them or just yawn. yawnings not a bad thing

Answer 5

my "trick" is that don't look at the person when they are yawning or i would catch that yawn? it may mean the person is bored or tired or might just yawn for no reason at all

Answer 6

haha! you just made me yawn! thanks!...for me, i tell myself not to yawn...sometimes i swallow a couple times or close my mouth/throat really tight. also hurry up and breathe in.

Answer 7

*Yawn.......They are not contagious...*yawn.....in the least. I have ne....*yawn....excuse me, never yawned because.....*yawn.......o, my....because someone else has.


I think it's.....*yawn....time for me to head of tooo......zzzzzzz