It’s very common to be completely awake, but see another overly tired passerby yawn, and immediately yawn. It’s also very common to describe a yawn as infectious. However, when compared to certain things like the plague, and ebola virus, it doesn’t seem like the same kind of infectious does it?
At the ripe age of four humans begin to feel the effects of an infectious yawn. This is due to the fact that at that time humans begin to develop feelings such as empathy. Due to this, it is said that the need to yawn after another person yawns is actually a sign of social bonding.
This type of social bonding doesn’t necessarily have to be obvious to the person mimicking the yawn. It is subconscious. Yawning as a reaction to another passerby yawning is a primal instinct, which allows humans to connect with each other on a deeper level.However, humans aren’t the only organism to perform this ritual. Lizards and snakes also display this phenomenon.
It is true that yawns are contagious. Not in the way a common cold is, but in a more habitual way.
This is so true! I remember being in Spanish class and my friend let out a yawn and it was like a domino effect on the whole class. Also you can’t even try not to yawn if someone else did, it’s impossible which is pretty cool. Also doctors can use yawns to help see if there is anything wrong in your body, which is amazing and I had no idea until I saw your article and started to do some research of my own!
http://news.discovery.com/human/health/yawning-social-behavior.htm