Old Wives' Tale Biology Psychology
MOSTLY FALSE Outdated, part true

Contagious Yawning Shows Empathy

The mechanism is neurological, not specifically empathic

✗ The myth everyone repeats

If you yawn and it spreads to others, it proves you're all empathic toward each other.

✓ What is actually true

Contagious yawning is a real phenomenon but its connection to empathy is not straightforward. While some studies suggest a link, contagious yawning is largely automatic and unconscious. People without empathy can still experience contagious yawning, and some autistic individuals don't show contagious yawning despite having empathy.

Believed Since 1950
Year Revised 2010
Why Changed Discovery
Confidence Revised
Region Worldwide

Reception

6/10
5/10
The receipts 2 sources
  1. Contagious Yawning - Scientific AmericanPRIMARY
  2. Snopes: Contagious YawningREFERENCE

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