Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
New York Times Video and Mimetic Theory Part 1: The Contagion of Yawning and the Social Glue

New York Times Video and Mimetic Theory Part 1: The Contagion of Yawning and the Social Glue

Last updated on: November 18, 2013 at 9:57 pm by Adam Ericksen

134 Comments

New York Times Video and Mimetic Theory Part 1: The Contagion of Yawning and the Social Glue 2013-11-18T21:57:05+00:00 Adam Ericksen

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It just so happens that middle schoolers and the New York Times are asking the same question: “Why is yawning contagious?”

Unfortunately, the New York Times doesn’t answer the question in their video. The closest it gets to an answer is to say, “Scientists see this yawning as part of the social glue that holds us together, so it’s not surprising that it occurs in other social species, too.”

That’s hardly an answer, and in fact, it only serves to bring up another question – what is the social glue that holds us together?

As the video shows, monkeys yawn contagiously with each other and with humans because they are imitative. “Monkey see, monkey do.” Aren’t monkeys cute, imitative creatures?

Hold on there, fellow human!

Neuroscience helps us answer the question with one word: mimesis. It turns out that you are a better imitator than those cute monkeys. In the book Mimesis and Science, Scott Garrels states that neuroscience shows that humans and monkeys have mirror neurons, which make both species imitative. The difference between us and monkeys is that “though monkeys have mirror neurons, they have not been found to be effective imitators” (25).

You, on the other hand, are an effective imitator. In fact, you are so effective at imitating that you do it unconsciously. When someone yawns, you instinctively yawn. When you are at dinner and someone reaches for a glass of water, you instinctively reach for a glass of water. Why? In another chapter of Mimesis and Science, Vittorio Gallese explains the science of mirror neurons with a bunch of words in a sequence I don’t understand and would be embarrassed to have to pronounce at a neuroscience convention. Fortunately, I’ve never been to a neuroscience convention, but here you go:

After the discovery of mirror neurons in the macaque monkey brain, several studies using different experimental methodologies and techniques have also demonstrated that in the human brain, the neural circuits underpinning action execution directly map its perception when executed by others. These parieto-premotor cortical networks are defined as the Mirror Neuron System. (94)

Umm…Let me try to unpack that. The human brain has mirror neurons that are the circuits that underpin all our actions. When we yawn, those neurons fire. But they also fire whenever we witness someone else execute an action. So, when you see someone yawn, those mirror neurons are firing as if you were yawning, too. And so you yawn.

Our exceptional mimetic capability is the glue that holds us together. Indeed, as the New York Times video states, “Contagious yawning, as mundane as it is, seems to be a sign post for something deeper: the development of empathy.” Empathy is an important aspect of our mimetic nature. As Gallese states in a sentence I’m proud to be able to understand, “Altogether, these results suggest that the same neural circuits underpinning our actions, intentions, emotions, and sensations also underpin our capacity to recognize and identify with the actions, intentions, emotions, and sensations of others” (96). The problem is that the mimetic impulse, which can lead to benevolent empathy, can also lead to violence. In his conclusion, Gallese states,

It could be tempting to use such evidence to assert the neurobiological basis of the supposed natural proclivity of humanity to sympathy, fellow feelings, goodwill, and altruism. I think we must resist such temptation and look at human nature as it really is, and not as we would like it to be. In this respect, Girard’s Mimetic Theory is illuminating, because it shows that mimesis, when declined as mimetic desire, has the intrinsic potentiality of driving humans to aggression and violence. (103)

For example, let’s take that glass of water sitting on the table. Someone reaches for their water and you instinctively imitate their reach for your glass. But what happens if you don’t have a glass? You will both reach for the same glass. Two hands reaching for the same object will inevitably drive us to conflict. You may end up fighting for that glass of water, or that jacket at Macy’s, or that job promotion, or the same love interest. Why? Because of the non-conscious mimetic impulse to imitate our fellow human beings.

So, the next time you find yourself imitating someone’s yawn, pat yourself on the back as you remind yourself that you are a much more effective imitator than monkeys. And that is both a very good thing when it comes to empathizing with those who suffer and a very dangerous thing when it comes to violence. It’s also important when it come to faith. After all, Jesus invites us to follow him and Paul invites us to imitate him as he imitates Christ. For faith, the social glue that holds us together is imitating Christ’s nonviolent love for the world.

(For more on this topic, see Andrew Marr’s article on mimesis “Human See, Human Want,” and Erik Buys’ article “Fairness Study” on how empathy may not be as benevolent as we think.)

Adam Ericksen blogs with Suzanne Ross at the Raven Foundation, where they use the insights of mimetic theory to “Make religion reasonable, violence unthinkable and peace a possibility.” Follow Adam on Twitter.

Previous Post

November 12, 2013

7 Questions Before C21: Jonathan Merritt

Next Post

November 19, 2013 7 Questions Before C21: Ani Zonneveld

Recent Comments

134 Comments | Leave a Comment

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Author Interviews Battle Over the Body and Blood of Christ Bearing Beauty Book Reviews Christian Education christian spirituallity christianity Christmas Church Church Leadership Contemplation Creation Care Death and Dying Death Penalty Disruptive Change Disruptors Series Easter Education Evolution and Faith Future of Progressive Christianity Gun Violence Health & Wellness Holy Week Interfaith Israel-Palestine Leading Differently Lent LGBTQ Living with Cancer Meditations on the Cross Mental Illness millennials Mimetic Mondays Monday Meditations Movie Reviews New Monasticism Pando Populus Parenting Patheos 10+1 Q&A Series PC(USA) Politics Pop Culture Practical Theology Series Prayer progressive christian Race Relations Reformation religion Religion and Politics Religion in America Rethink Church Social Justice Spirituality Spirituality of the Body Stump a Scholar Technology and Faith Thanksgiving Theodicy Trust Me Church Uncategorized Why I'm Still Christian Youth Ministry

Select a Month December 2025 April 2025 January 2025 September 2023 September 2022 May 2022 February 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 May 2021 February 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 June 2020 May 2020 March 2020 June 2019 March 2019 January 2019 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What Christian group emphasizes "The Inner Light" as guidance from God?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Pentecostals Quakers Baptists Methodists