Try not to yawn while reading this.

(And yes, there’s science behind why you yawn when other people do!)

Ever wondered why yawns are so contagious?

The most puzzling part of yawning is that seeing someone yawn can trigger you to do it, too.

We spoke to an expert to dive into the psychology behind the yawn.

Why Do We Yawn?

As of today, one of the most popular theories about why we yawn is for arousal.

Why Are Yawns Contagious?

Here are a few reasons they think people pass yawns around.

You’re yawning out of empathy.

According to researchers, empathy is the most likely reason.

Known as echophenomena, it has also been witnessed in chimpanzees, dogs, and humans.

It’s worth noting that this reaction is only limited in fully developed brains.

“As mentally healthy adults, our psychosocial development will make us yawn when others do.

Social mirroring could cause you to yawn.

With social mirroring, you unconsciously do things to form deeper bonds with those around you.

Yawning isn’t the only place where this copycat behavior is observed.

Turns out that it’s only naturalour brains are literally wired to copy people around us.

Fun fact: There are other activities that could trigger a mirroring episode.

For instance, if you see someone scratching, you might start scratching, too.

Yawning may help regulate your temperature.

Temperature regulation is a big reason scientists believe that humans yawn.

Is It Possible to Yawn Too Much?

Could there be something wrong?

However, there are some cases where yawning may indicate a more pressing problem.

The important factor to keep an eye on is how frequently you’re yawningfor you.

See your doctor if you experience an uptick in your yawns for no explicable reason.

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