The strict teacher is giving a lecture on the most difficult topic. You are all eyes and ears to what she is teaching. Suddenly your friend across the desk yawns, and that single yawn is enough to set a relay of yawns across the class. Then, when your best friend yawns the infectious nature of the yawn affects you too. Alas! The teacher saw you, while your mouth was wide open!
Does seeing
others yawning makes you yawn too? That is the power of Yawn.
What is a
Yawn?
A yawn is a
reflex consisting of the simultaneous inhalation of air and the stretching of
the eardrums, followed by an exhalation of breath.
What is a contagious yawning?
Contagious
yawning is a well-documented phenomenon that occurs only in humans and chimpanzees
in response to hearing, seeing or thinking about yawning.
What are the
major culprits?
Fixed Action
Pattern - A fixed action pattern (FAP) is an instinctive behavioral response
triggered by a very specific stimulus. Fixed action patterns, or similar
behaviour sequences, are produced by a neural network known as the innate
releasing mechanism in response to an external sensory stimulus known as a sign
stimulus or releaser. Once triggered, the FAP behavior can’t be stopped
‘midstream’, but must play out to completion. That is why in the class when one
yawns it paves way for a FAP and results into a cascade effect.

Non-Conscious
Mimicry - The "chameleon effect" or Non-conscious mimicry refers to
the tendency to adopt the postures, gestures, and mannerisms of interaction
partners. This type of mimicry occurs outside of conscious awareness, and
without any intent to mimic or imitate. So when you see someone yawn, the
copycat brain of yours makes you yawn too without your knowledge.

Empathy – is the experience of
understanding another person's condition from their perspective. You place
yourself in their shoes and feel what they are feeling. Only humans,
chimpanzees and possibly dogs have been shown to yawn contagiously. Children
below the age of 4 do not show contagious yawning. This is because it is after
the age of four that empathetic behaviour or emotional aspect is developed.
Studies, also shows that you are more likely to copy the yawn of those who are
socially and genetically close to you, as compared to any stranger.Even dogs
tend to copy the yawn of their owner. This explains why you yawned when you saw
your best friend yawn.
Now that you
know the contagious power and reason of yawning just beware, a yawning friend
is more dangerous than a yawning stranger!
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