Do men yawn more than women?

Schino, Gabriele; Aureli, Filippo

doi:10.1016/0162-3095(89)90026-5

Cited by 27 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Moreover, in long-tailed macaque males Chambers and Phoenix54 found a positive correlation between testosterone levels and rates of spontaneous yawning, which was mainly associated with inter-male threats12. The display function of yawning in dimorphic species is also supported by the absence of sex difference in yawn frequency in those primate species characterized by a low level of sexual dimorphism in canine size, such as humans ( Homo sapiens 745), chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes 14), and lemurs ( Lemur catta and Propithecus verrauxi , Palagi et al unpublished data). Even though some social factors appear to modulate the use of yawn as a threatening signal in geladas, it could be interesting to investigate the potential link between the different types of yawning and androgen hormone concentration (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Moreover, in highly dimorphic species ( Cercocebus albigena and Macaca fascicularis 10; M. nigra 11; M. fuscata 12), it is expected that it is displayed mostly by males due to their active role in territorial defence and females' control28. This sex difference in yawn frequency seems, in fact, to disappear in species not characterized by a pronounced dimorphism in canine size, such as humans45 and lemurs ( Lemur catta , Propithecus verreauxi , Palagi unpublished data).…”

Section: Hypothesis 2 (Social Display)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Different yawns, different functions? Testing social hypotheses on spontaneous yawning in Theropithecus gelada

Leone

Ferrari

Palagi

2014

Sci Rep

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Here, we tested hypotheses about the potential functions of yawning based on its intensity and social contexts. Due to their spectrum intensity of yawns (covered teeth/YW1; uncovered teeth/YW2; uncovered gums/YW3), geladas are a good model species for this purpose. We suggest that yawns of different intensity can bear different information according to the performer, the context and the behavioural pattern temporally associated to the yawn event. YW3, mainly performed by high ranking males during periods of high social tension, was frequently associated with an auditory component and often accompanied by scratching (a measure of anxiety). YW1 and YW2, preferentially performed by females, were frequently associated to lip smacking, an affiliative display. In conclusion, even though a clear-cut functional distinction of geladas' yawn intensity is difficult, YW1 and YW2 seem to be more linked to affiliative social interactions; whereas, YW3 seems to be more linked to agonistic and tension situations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Hypothesis 2 (Social Display)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Different yawns, different functions? Testing social hypotheses on spontaneous yawning in Theropithecus gelada

Leone

Ferrari

Palagi

2014

Sci Rep

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“…The adult male :female rarios of yawning frequency in this study approximate those given by TROISI et al (1990) in their study of yawning in social groups of long-tailed and Japanese macaques. Unlike in monkeys, no sex difference in yawning frequency has been detected in humans (PROVINE & HAMERNIK 1986;SCHINO & AURELI 1989). The clear sex difference in yawning frequency in monkeys suggests a close rdationship between yawning and androgens, especially testosterone.…”

Section: Yawning and Sex Hormonesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yawning is a common, species-typical behaviour in many vertebrate species (fish: RASA 1971;birds: SAUER & SAUER 1967;primates: HADIDIAN 1980;PELLATI et al 1981;PROVINE 1986;PROVINE & HAMERNIK 1986;PROVINE et al 1987a, b;SCHINO & AURELI 1989;TROISI et al 1990) that has attracted substantial popular, but relatively little scientific, attention (BARBIZET 1958;PROVINE 1986;PROVINE et al 1987a). Yawning is commonly described in terms of its two principal components: a respiratory and a mouth-gape component.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethological Study of Yawning in Primates. I. Quantitative Analysis and Study of Causation in Two Species of Old World Monkeys (Cercocebus albigena and Macaca fascicularis)

Deputte

1994

Ethology

105

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Yawning is a common, species‐typical behaviour in vertebrates, generally associated with transitions from sleep to wakefulness. In primates, yawning occurs within a group in a variety of social contexts, suggesting that it has a communicative role, a hypothesis examined in this study. Yawning has rarely been studied. Quantitative studies have been concerned only with age, sex and social‐status differences in yawning frequency. The causation and function of yawning were examined in a quantitative, 796‐h ethological analysis of observations of two groups of Cercocebus albigena and one group of Macaca fascicularis. In both species, yawns occurred in two main contexts: during transitions from rest to activity (the ‘rest yawn’) and following social interactions (the ‘emotion yawn’). The rest yawn represents 90 % of yawns and is common to every age‐sex group. By contrast, the emotion yawn (10 %) is more frequent in adult males. Regardless of context, yawning was more frequent in males than females. Within males yawning frequency increased with age. Thus, sex hormones may modulate the physiological processes involved. Yawns were usually performed by individuals in seated, lying or standing positions. Yawns were frequently followed by short periods of rest, so that, when triggered by a social interaction, they occurred at its end. The morphology of the yawning act did not vary in regard to context age and/or sex of the yawner.

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“…Cercocebus albigena and Macaca fascicularis [Deputte, 1994]; M. nigra [Hadidian, 1980]; M. fuscata [Troisi et al, 1990]; and Gorilla gorilla; [Parnell, 2002]. This sex difference in yawn production is less likely in species which do not have pronounced dimorphism in canine size, such as humans [Schino & Aureli, 1989]. Moreover, in male-male encounters, the dominant individual produces more yawns that the subordinate e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation and context of yawns in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Vick

Paukner

2009

American J Primatol

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Primate yawns are usually categorised according to context (e.g. as a threat, anxious or rest yawn) but there has been little consideration of whether these yawns are best regarded as a unitary behaviour that only differs with respect to the context in which it is observed. This study examined the context and precise morphology of yawns in a group of 11 captive chimpanzees. Focal video sampling was used to describe the morphology and intensity of 124 yawns using ChimpFACS, a system for coding facial movements. Two distinct forms of yawn were identified, a full yawn and a yawn which is modified by additional actions which reduce the mouth aperture. These modified yawns may indicate some degree of voluntary control over facial movement in chimpanzees and consequently multiple functions of yawning according to context. To assess context effects, mean activity levels (resting, locomotion and grooming) and scratching rates were compared one minute before and after each yawn. Locomotion was significantly increased following both types of yawn, while scratching rates significantly increased following modified yawns but decreased following full yawns. In terms of individual differences, males did not yawn more than females although male yawns were of higher intensity, both in the degree of mouth opening and in the amount of associated head movement. These data indicate that yawning is associated with a change in activity levels in chimpanzees but only modified yawns may be related to increased arousal. Different types of yawn can therefore be differentiated at the morphological level as well as context level.

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Do men yawn more than women?

Cited by 27 publications

References 10 publications

Different yawns, different functions? Testing social hypotheses on spontaneous yawning in Theropithecus gelada

Different yawns, different functions? Testing social hypotheses on spontaneous yawning in Theropithecus gelada

Ethological Study of Yawning in Primates. I. Quantitative Analysis and Study of Causation in Two Species of Old World Monkeys (Cercocebus albigena and Macaca fascicularis)

Variation and context of yawns in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

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