Comments on: The Social Yawn http://mindhacks.com/2004/12/15/the-social-yawn/ Neuroscience and psychology news and views. Fri, 24 May 2013 17:03:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: ThenWhen http://mindhacks.com/2004/12/15/the-social-yawn/#comment-8611 Mon, 20 Dec 2004 17:31:05 +0000 http://mindhacksblog.wordpress.com/2004/12/15/the-social-yawn/#comment-8611 One of our dogs used to tremble and hide during thunderstorms. All efforts to comfort her only seemed to increase her anxiety. Finally a dog trainer suggested we yawn elaborately during the storm. The effect is immediate, her body relaxes and although she still might look nervously at the window during a large “boom,” the shaking, whining and hiding all stop.
Since then, I’ve noticed my pack (4 dogs) using yawning to diffuse tension. Sometimes, when my dogs & I are out walking we run into my neighbors 5 dogs (a patchy truce exists). Instantly the dogs from both packs are on complete alert – tails pointing toward their ears, legs rigid, staring near (but not at) the rival dogs. Typically, one or both alpha dogs will slowly yawn – which is notable for its incongruity with the general tension. But almost at once, the dogs in the yawning pack will relax and move on with their business.
Finally, my male malamute – the dog most likely to attempt cross-species communication – incorporates yawning in his strategy (which also includes mal-talk “wah-wah-woo” and jumping backwards to the nearest exit ) when he thinks I’m likely to over-react to his arrangement of coffee grounds and burger wraps on the carpet.
I wonder if other dog owners have noticed similar things.

]]> By: DiVERSiONZ http://mindhacks.com/2004/12/15/the-social-yawn/#comment-8613 Wed, 15 Dec 2004 20:48:23 +0000 http://mindhacksblog.wordpress.com/2004/12/15/the-social-yawn/#comment-8613 What’s In A Yawn

Yawning a lot today, so this seems appropriate….

]]> By: A Gallimaufry of Links http://mindhacks.com/2004/12/15/the-social-yawn/#comment-8612 Wed, 15 Dec 2004 20:29:34 +0000 http://mindhacksblog.wordpress.com/2004/12/15/the-social-yawn/#comment-8612 What’s in a Yawn?

What’s in a Yawn?…

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