Yes, a stranger can make you yawn. Yawning is a contagious behavior.
Studies have shown that seeing someone else yawn significantly increases the likelihood of you yawning as well. One study indicated a sixfold increase in the probability of yawning after witnessing another person yawn. This contagious yawning effect isn't just limited to people you know; it extends to strangers as well. The reason for this phenomenon is still being researched, but theories suggest it could be linked to empathy and social connection. Mirror neurons in the brain, which activate both when we perform an action and when we see someone else perform the same action, may also play a role.
Therefore, even without any personal connection, the simple act of observing a stranger yawn can trigger the same response in you.
