Why do we yawn when we see someone else yawn?

Question:

We all seem to yawn when we are tired. The dictionaries say it is because of the need of oxygen. That being said it seems that when we see someone else yawn we tend to yawn as if this action is contagious. But does anyone know why a yawn seems to be contagious?

I have heard the joke explanation concerning a decrease of air pressure that is just a funny explanation.

Answers:
I read something a couple of months ago that said that yawning is contagious because it's a human's way of empathizing with other humans. Kinda a weak explanation if you ask me.

I have no idea why we really do it, but I think it's just in our mind. Maybe if we see someone else yawning (or gasping for air) we yawn (or take a deep breath) just to assure ourselves there is plenty of oxygen. It's all in your head.

idk but i usually always yawn while someone else is yawning.

lol i just yawned right now and I'm not even tired.. Oh there i go again.. I yawned...

I think you probually yawn when you think about it

lol i just yawned again.

I don't know but I had to yawn just reading about yawning. How bizarre huh!

I heard that the negative energies leave the body when we yawn and it goes to the other person and s/he yawns too.

If you don't see the other person yawn then you are not likely to yawn. I think when you see a person yawning telepathically your brain believes she is telling you "I am tired" or "I am bored".

Thus your brain unconsciously answers back with a yawn as well to say "so am I"

;)

Why do we yawn when we see someone else yawn?

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