This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
Contagious yawning can be annoying, but it might also be a sign of good social skills. It's a type of emotional contagion, a phenomenon in which we tend to share the feelings of people around us. Scientific American MIND editor Sandra Upson explains in our latest Instant Egghead video.
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Ingroup-Outgroup Bias in Contagious Yawning by Chimpanzees Supports Link to Empathy (PLOS One)
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Credits:
Written & presented by Sandra Upson
Production assistant: Joss Fong
Produced & edited by Eric R. Olson