Sometimes you walk away from a brief chat with the nagging feeling that something is off, even if you cannot pinpoint why. Psychopathic traits are usually thought of as something that becomes clearer only after you know a person well, because the surface can look polished and charming. Still, some research suggests there may be a quicker way to spot a potential red flag early on. The key idea is not about catching someone in a lie or watching for dramatic outbursts, but noticing how they respond to a small, ordinary human moment.
Psychopathy is often associated with a mix of traits like superficial charm, narcissism, an inflated self-image, manipulative behavior, habitual lying, and a lack of guilt or empathy. Those qualities can be hard to detect in casual settings because many people know how to manage impressions. That is why the proposed shortcut feels so intriguing. Instead of focusing on what a person says, it looks at what their nervous system and social wiring might reveal in real time.
The clue is yawning, specifically the kind that spreads from one person to another. Yawning is tied to the nervous system, but it is also linked to empathy and social connection. When someone yawns nearby, many people feel the urge to yawn too, a phenomenon often called contagious yawning. According to a piece shared by YourTango, if a person repeatedly does not “catch” another person’s yawn, it may suggest lower empathic responsiveness.
Researchers have reported that people with stronger psychopathic traits are less likely to react with contagious yawning. One study published in 2015 in the journal Personality and Individual Differences found that individuals scoring higher on psychopathy measures did not mirror yawns as often as others did. Another research team at Baylor University observed 135 participants who first completed a questionnaire measuring psychopathic traits and were then exposed to yawning cues. Their takeaway was that empathy appears to be a crucial ingredient in why contagious yawning happens at all.
Even with those findings, experts stress that this is not a diagnostic tool and should never be treated as one. A true clinical assessment requires a qualified professional and a structured evaluation, commonly using the Psychopathy Checklist, which can take around three hours and involves an in-depth interview. At best, yawning is a conversation starter about social behavior and empathy, not a shortcut to labeling anyone. If anything, it is a reminder to trust patterns over single moments and to be cautious about snap judgments.
Have you ever noticed contagious yawning in your own life, and do you think it says anything meaningful about connection and empathy? Share your thoughts in the comments.
