Sharing (E)motions? Investigating the Relationship Between Contagious Yawning and Facial Mimicry

In social interactions, individuals often mimic each other’s emotional expressions, such as pupil size and facial expressions, or yawns. This phenomenon is known as mimicry. The mechanisms and functionality of mimicry, particularly its role in empathy formation, remain debated. Contagious yawning and facial mimicry are two interesting but poorly understood phenomena within this context. They, however, exhibit several similarities that could hint at an underlying relationship between them. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between contagious yawning and facial mimicry, as well as the influence of empathy on this relationship. An experiment was conducted with 41 participants using a repeated-measure within-subjects design across three blocks: facial mimicry, pupil mimicry, and contagious yawning. Measurements included facial electromyography, pupil size, and electrocardiogram readings. Contagious yawning was assessed through covert video recordings, and empathy was...Show moreIn social interactions, individuals often mimic each other’s emotional expressions, such as pupil size and facial expressions, or yawns. This phenomenon is known as mimicry. The mechanisms and functionality of mimicry, particularly its role in empathy formation, remain debated. Contagious yawning and facial mimicry are two interesting but poorly understood phenomena within this context. They, however, exhibit several similarities that could hint at an underlying relationship between them. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between contagious yawning and facial mimicry, as well as the influence of empathy on this relationship. An experiment was conducted with 41 participants using a repeated-measure within-subjects design across three blocks: facial mimicry, pupil mimicry, and contagious yawning. Measurements included facial electromyography, pupil size, and electrocardiogram readings. Contagious yawning was assessed through covert video recordings, and empathy was measured using the Empathy Quotient. A logistic regression with a moderation effect was performed. Contrary to the hypotheses, no significant relationship between contagious yawning and facial mimicry was found, and empathy did not moderate this relationship. The findings of the current study suggest that the underlying processes of contagious yawning and facial mimicry are distinct, complex, and influenced by a multitude of unexplored factors. Future research should explore the relationship between contagious yawning and other forms of mimicry, integrating various theoretical perspectives to achieve a better understanding of mimicry phenomena.Show less

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Sharing (E)motions? Investigating the Relationship Between Contagious Yawning and Facial Mimicry