Why is it when someone yawns, other people are likely to yawn as well?

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I appreciate the link, but the question still remains unanswered.

That’s because there is no scientific answer. Why is the gag reflex infectious as is, often, hilarious laughter? There may be some murky prehistorical social-biological reason why the members of the tribe should yawn, throw up or giggle together, but I haven’t a clue as to how to do the research. Safety in numbers? Not wishing to deviate from tribal behavior? Who knows?

Apparently even Bill Nye, the Science guy, can only speculate. My guess seems as good as his.

See contagious yawns; dogs and us

There was an article I saw recently—in the New York Times, I think, but I don’t remember when—that linked yawning and empathy. That is, people who were more empathic were also more likely to yawn when someone else did.

This doesn’t give a full answer, of course, but it’s a suggestive correlation.

Thank you both. I will keep looking for a definate answer.

Ever yawn while talking on the phone & the person you are talking to yawns? Seems trivial but it happens… :0

probably cuz you’re boring each other on the telephone lol
jk

I read recently about a theory that people yawned together to signal times of sleep and wakefulness, to get everybody in the family, tribe, whatever awake and asleep at the same time. Because when you yawn, you get sleepier, or wake up. I have no further information to offer, but it seems plausible to me.

haha omgsh i actually know the answer to this question!! i watched a video about it
when you yawn it cools your brain down. normally breathing though your mouth makes you yawn more then breathing through your nose. you dont yawn because your bored.
watch this vid.

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=49750&cl=3520301&ch=61492&src=www.thatsfit.com