A Question For The Ages: Why Are Yawns Contagious?  Feb 19, 13 A
Question For The Ages: Why Are Yawns Contagious?  You’re sitting
in the front lobby of your favorite restaurant waiting patiently
to be seated when the lady next to you yawns. Then you yawn.
Then your significant other yawns, then your children, and
repeat until its time to eat. Why is that?  It’s a question
we’ve surely all pondered. Even more surely, we’ve heard crazy
superstitions and nonsense answers: why are yawns contagious?
Changes in atmospheric pressure, subconscious influence, the
mirror neuron effect, and the list goes on and on.  Tons of
scientific research lends to the theory that contagious yawning
is an empathetic act. Just like smiling, frowning, or crying,
when we see someone emoting, that emotion is thrust upon us
whether we like it or not. That statement holds even more truth
when the person we see emoting is someone we know or love.  If
your wife cries, it makes you sad. If your baby laughs it makes
you smile. Simple.  Resear