Mariska Kret

Yawns are contagious because yawning is an evolutionary, very relevant behavior. When people yawn, they literally cool down their brain and people can become more attentive. And this is actually why humans are not alone in yawning. Many, many different species yawn, even fish yawn. So if in a certain situation, It's good to be attentive.

Yawns are contagious because yawning is an evolutionary, very relevant behavior. When people yawn, they literally cool down their brain and people can become more attentive. And this is actually why humans are not alone in yawning. Many, many different species yawn, even fish yawn. So if in a certain situation, It's good to be attentive.

For example, you can see animals yawn in stressful situations a lot. And then, yeah, you very often see that those types of behaviors are copied, are mimicked. Yeah. So I'm not surprised that this has been spreading in the classroom. Actually, when I talk about yawning and also scratching, I also study contagious scratching.

For example, you can see animals yawn in stressful situations a lot. And then, yeah, you very often see that those types of behaviors are copied, are mimicked. Yeah. So I'm not surprised that this has been spreading in the classroom. Actually, when I talk about yawning and also scratching, I also study contagious scratching.

A bit itchy. And yeah, it's really very contagious.

A bit itchy. And yeah, it's really very contagious.

Yeah. So it's that. So emotional expressions in themselves have benefits. So for example, well, I already told you, you know, when you're yawning, you cool down your brain. So that has an advantage for yourself. For example, the expression of disgust, you close your eyes, you close your nose, you stick out your tongue, you do everything right.

Yeah. So it's that. So emotional expressions in themselves have benefits. So for example, well, I already told you, you know, when you're yawning, you cool down your brain. So that has an advantage for yourself. For example, the expression of disgust, you close your eyes, you close your nose, you stick out your tongue, you do everything right.

to protect your body actually from potential poisonous information. So this has also benefits for yourself. But if there is someone standing next to you and sees that expression on your face, it also has benefits for the other individual to mimic that expression. So, for example, a poisonous, disgusting gas, rotten egg smell or something. So you close off your senses.

to protect your body actually from potential poisonous information. So this has also benefits for yourself. But if there is someone standing next to you and sees that expression on your face, it also has benefits for the other individual to mimic that expression. So, for example, a poisonous, disgusting gas, rotten egg smell or something. So you close off your senses.

You prevent this material to enter your body and harm your body. In fear, we actually do the opposite. You open your eyes. You open even your nostrils. There has been researchers actually showing that in fear, we do the opposite of what we do in disgust. Darwin was actually the first to report that.

You prevent this material to enter your body and harm your body. In fear, we actually do the opposite. You open your eyes. You open even your nostrils. There has been researchers actually showing that in fear, we do the opposite of what we do in disgust. Darwin was actually the first to report that.

So in fear, we open our eyes, we open our nostrils, we breathe in, and we do everything to take in information. And research has actually shown that by opening your eyes, you can... perceptual benefits for the visual field. I don't know. So yeah, some expressions, not all, but some expressions have direct benefits for the expressor.

So in fear, we open our eyes, we open our nostrils, we breathe in, and we do everything to take in information. And research has actually shown that by opening your eyes, you can... perceptual benefits for the visual field. I don't know. So yeah, some expressions, not all, but some expressions have direct benefits for the expressor.

Well, maybe women. I don't know. He did say some things I didn't like about women. For the rest, I'm a big fan.

Well, maybe women. I don't know. He did say some things I didn't like about women. For the rest, I'm a big fan.

Yeah, that's an extreme version of a disgust expression.

Yeah, that's an extreme version of a disgust expression.

There has been done very little research as far as I know. I would have to check, but I know that there is at least a study looking at dogs and their owners.

There has been done very little research as far as I know. I would have to check, but I know that there is at least a study looking at dogs and their owners.

So there is a lot of mimicry going on between dogs and their owners. I think... although I know that there's also a lot of individual differences. Some people are much more susceptible to the yawns of other people than others. So we know, for example, people with high psychopathic traits are less susceptible.

So there is a lot of mimicry going on between dogs and their owners. I think... although I know that there's also a lot of individual differences. Some people are much more susceptible to the yawns of other people than others. So we know, for example, people with high psychopathic traits are less susceptible.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's funny that you ask. So we did do blind date studies in my lab.

It's funny that you ask. So we did do blind date studies in my lab.

And we did studies where we looked at the effects of young contagion on trust. We didn't look at yawning in the blind dates. That didn't really happen.

And we did studies where we looked at the effects of young contagion on trust. We didn't look at yawning in the blind dates. That didn't really happen.

They were smiling a lot and doing a lot of things in the blind dates. What we found was that actually only the synchronization on the physiological level, on the level of heart rate, was predicting dating success. And maybe a certain type of smile, not every smile, but the shy smile.

They were smiling a lot and doing a lot of things in the blind dates. What we found was that actually only the synchronization on the physiological level, on the level of heart rate, was predicting dating success. And maybe a certain type of smile, not every smile, but the shy smile.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah, especially when it comes to. finding a partner. People can be so picky. This other person has to have, I don't know, black hair and this and that and blue eyes and I don't know, this whole wishlist. And then the person that you actually click with can be completely different.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah, especially when it comes to. finding a partner. People can be so picky. This other person has to have, I don't know, black hair and this and that and blue eyes and I don't know, this whole wishlist. And then the person that you actually click with can be completely different.

And then we find this really strong correlation between physiological synchrony, that's how it's called, and dating success.

And then we find this really strong correlation between physiological synchrony, that's how it's called, and dating success.

Yawns are contagious because yawning is an evolutionary, very relevant behavior. When people yawn, they literally cool down their brain and people can become more attentive. And this is actually why humans are not alone in yawning. Many, many different species yawn, even fish yawn. So if in a certain situation, It's good to be attentive.

For example, you can see animals yawn in stressful situations a lot. And then, yeah, you very often see that those types of behaviors are copied, are mimicked. Yeah. So I'm not surprised that this has been spreading in the classroom. Actually, when I talk about yawning and also scratching, I also study contagious scratching.

A bit itchy. And yeah, it's really very contagious.

Yeah. So it's that. So emotional expressions in themselves have benefits. So for example, well, I already told you, you know, when you're yawning, you cool down your brain. So that has an advantage for yourself. For example, the expression of disgust, you close your eyes, you close your nose, you stick out your tongue, you do everything right.

to protect your body actually from potential poisonous information. So this has also benefits for yourself. But if there is someone standing next to you and sees that expression on your face, it also has benefits for the other individual to mimic that expression. So, for example, a poisonous, disgusting gas, rotten egg smell or something. So you close off your senses.

You prevent this material to enter your body and harm your body. In fear, we actually do the opposite. You open your eyes. You open even your nostrils. There has been researchers actually showing that in fear, we do the opposite of what we do in disgust. Darwin was actually the first to report that.

So in fear, we open our eyes, we open our nostrils, we breathe in, and we do everything to take in information. And research has actually shown that by opening your eyes, you can... perceptual benefits for the visual field. I don't know. So yeah, some expressions, not all, but some expressions have direct benefits for the expressor.

Well, maybe women. I don't know. He did say some things I didn't like about women. For the rest, I'm a big fan.

Yeah, that's an extreme version of a disgust expression.

There has been done very little research as far as I know. I would have to check, but I know that there is at least a study looking at dogs and their owners.

So there is a lot of mimicry going on between dogs and their owners. I think... although I know that there's also a lot of individual differences. Some people are much more susceptible to the yawns of other people than others. So we know, for example, people with high psychopathic traits are less susceptible.

Yeah.

It's funny that you ask. So we did do blind date studies in my lab.

And we did studies where we looked at the effects of young contagion on trust. We didn't look at yawning in the blind dates. That didn't really happen.

They were smiling a lot and doing a lot of things in the blind dates. What we found was that actually only the synchronization on the physiological level, on the level of heart rate, was predicting dating success. And maybe a certain type of smile, not every smile, but the shy smile.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah, especially when it comes to. finding a partner. People can be so picky. This other person has to have, I don't know, black hair and this and that and blue eyes and I don't know, this whole wishlist. And then the person that you actually click with can be completely different.

And then we find this really strong correlation between physiological synchrony, that's how it's called, and dating success.