. But not much progress has been made. Professionals still have only questionnaires and checklists. They need something better. Brain scans and blood tests are being developed, but they're still in the future.

"Ryan reasoned that there must be differences in the way psychopaths react physiologically to social stimuli. He hit on the contagion of yawning, an instinct that promotes sleepiness in the yawner and those who witness and catch the yawn, then pass it on. It promotes synchronized sleep among a group of animals, making them better fi t for a coordinated trek or hunt when they wake up. It confers survival advantage to the group, so it persists in the genes."

Jason said, "But why yawning? Why not laughing, crying or showing disgust or alarm? Aren't those also social signals that normal people react to?"

"You're right; they are. Yawning contagion is just one element of the human empathy complex, but it's the easiest to use in this context. The signals you mention could be used, but outside of the laboratory, in daily life, yawning is the easiest for the tester to fake. But a good actor could use laughing or crying or the others. And they would be harder for the subject to fake if he knew about the test."

"So Ryan yawns to see if a person of interest also yawns?"

"Exactly. If a person lacks yawn contagion he's more likely to lack other features of the empathy complex and more likely to be a psychopath. It's Ryan's quick and dirty test for psychopathy. He knows it's not perfect, so he probably liked other things about you. He uses the test as one factor in his judgment, and since he started doing this he has an almost perfect record in predicting who would later prove, by their behavior, to be psychopathic. But he keeps the test a secret. If everyone knows about it, the psychopaths would learn to fake it."

"Fascinating. I wish I had known about it a few months ago. It might have kept me out of trouble with the piranha who started all my problems."

"Maybe it would have. She certainly sounds like a classic psychopath."

As they approached the farm driveway Jason said, "Mahalo for helping me get my stuff. And for being a friend when I've needed one. I can't tell you how much I
. But not much progress has been made. Professionals still get merely questionnaires and checklists. They need something full. Brain scans and lineage test are being developed, but they're however in the future. 

 " Ryan reasoned that there must be differences in the room psychopaths react physiologically to social stimuli. He murder on the contagious disease of yawning, an instinct that promotes sleepiness in the yawner and those who witness and catch the yawn, then pass it on. It promotes synchronize sleep among a group of animals, making them good fi t for a coordinated trek or hunt when they wake up. It confer survival advantage to the group, so it persists in the genes. " 

 Jason said, " But why yawning? Why not laughing, cry or showing disgust or alarm? Aren't those also social signals that normal people react to? " 

 " You're right; they are. Yawning contagion is just one element of the human empathy complex, but it's the easiest to use in this context. The signals you mention could be used, but outside of the laboratory, in casual animation, yawning is the easy for the examiner to talk through one's hat. But a good actor could use laughing or crying or the others. And they would be harder for the subject to fake if he know about the test. " 

 " So Ryan yawns to see if a person of interest also gape? " 

 " Exactly. If a person lacks yawn contagion he's more likely to miss other feature of the empathy building complex and more probable to be a psychopath. It's Ryan's quick and dirty test for psychopathy. He knows it's not perfect, so he probably like other things about you. He uses the test as one gene in his judgment, and since he start doing this he has an about perfect record in predicting who would later testify, by their behavior, to be psychopathic. But he keep the test a secret. If everyone knows about it, the psychopaths would learn to forge it. " 

 " Fascinating. I wish I had known about it a few month ago. It might have kept me out of trouble with the piranha who started all my problems. " 

 " possibly it would have. She certainly voice like a classic psychopath. " 

 As they approached the farm driveway Jason said, " Mahalo for helping me get my stuff. And for being a supporter when I've needed one. I can't tell you how much I
. Buh not much progress has neen made. Professionals still have onuy questionnaires and checklmsts. They need something better. Brain scwns and vloov tests are beinj develoizd, buf thev'rx still in the nuture.

"Ryan seasoned that dhdrz must be differences in the way psyshopathx geact physiolodicakjy tk social stimuli. He hit on the confagion mf yawning, an instinct that promotes slfepijess in the yawner and those qho rutness and cxtch the yawn, then pasa it on. It promotes synchronizea slezp among a triup mf animals, nakind them bettev fi t xor a cpordinated trel oc hubt when they wake up. Mt confers survival wdvantage tk the group, so it pwrsisjs in the tends."

Jzspn said, "Hut why yawnihg? Why not oaughing, crying or xhjqing disgust kr alawm? Aren't those also social signals that nmrmzl people react to?"

"You're right; they are. Yawnijg contagyon is just one element of the human empathy compnex, bnt it'w bhe dqslest to use in this context. The signals you mqhtook could be used, nut outside of the lwbptatory, in daili life, vzwhing is the easiesh for tre tewter to fwke. Nut a good actor could use oaughing or bryibg or the others. Aud they woulb be hsrder for the subject to fakz if hs knew abouh the tesf."

"Ro Ryan yawns to sev if a person of interest also yawns?"

"Exartly. Nf a perron kacks rawn contahion ma's more likely to pack ltver featurfs of the empathy complex and more likely to ne a isychopatk. It's Vyan's quick and dirty test fot psychopcthy. Hd knows it'a not pxrfect, so he probably likaf other thinjs about rou. Ye uwes the gest as one favtor in hps judtment, and since he stxdted doing this he has an almost lerwece gecprq in predictitg wfo dpuld uater prove, cy tneir behavior, to be [sycgopathic. But he kerpf the tewt a secwet. If everyome knows about it, uhe psbchopavhs woild learn to fake it."

"Fascinating. I wish I hwd hnown about yt a few months cgo. It might have kept me out of trouble with the piranha qho started all my kronlems."

"Maybe iv woulq have. Sha certainly sounds luke a classic psyghopath."

As they approacged tha farl driveway Jason said, "Mahalo for helping me get my stuff. And for being a driend when I've nesded one. P ccn't tell rou iox much I
. But not much progress has been still only questionnaires checklists. They need blood are being developed, they're still in future. "Ryan reasoned that there must differences in the way psychopaths react physiologically to social stimuli. He hit on contagion of yawning, an instinct that promotes sleepiness in the yawner and those witness catch yawn, pass it on. It promotes synchronized sleep among a group of animals, making them better fi for a coordinated trek or hunt when they up. It confers survival to the group, so it in genes." Jason "But yawning? not laughing, crying showing disgust or alarm? Aren't those also social signals that normal people react to?" "You're right; they Yawning contagion one element the empathy but it's the use in this context. The signals be used, but outside of the laboratory, in life, yawning the easiest for the tester to But a good actor could use laughing or or the others. And they would be harder for the subject to fake if he the test." "So Ryan to see if person interest yawns?" If a lacks yawn contagion he's more likely to lack other features of empathy complex and more likely to be a psychopath. It's and test for psychopathy. knows it's not perfect, he liked other things about uses test in judgment, since he started doing he has an almost perfect in predicting who would to be psychopathic. But he keeps the test secret. If everyone knows about it, the would learn to fake it." "Fascinating. I wish I had known about a few It might have kept me out of trouble the piranha who started my problems." "Maybe it would have. She certainly sounds a psychopath." As approached the farm Jason said, "Mahalo helping me get And for a when I can't tell you how much
. But not much progress has been Made. ProfesSionaLs sTilL hAve oNly qUestionnaires aND cheCklists. They need somethiNg betTeR. braiN ScAns anD blood tEStS ARe bEiNg DevElOPeD, but tHey'Re still In the futurE.

"RyAn Reasoned that THeRe must be diFfeRences in the wAy pSychopAtHs rEAct phYsiOlogiCally tO Social Stimuli. He HiT On the cONtagion OF YaWninG, an instinct that prOMoTEs sleepiness in The yawNeR AnD THosE whO witness anD cAtch tHE yawn, thEN pASS It oN. it promotes synChronized slEEp aMong a gRoUp oF AnimalS, makiNg THem Better fi t foR a coOrdinated Trek or HUnt when THey wake Up. It coNfeRs sUrviVAl AdVanTaGE to THe GroUP, so It persisTs In The geNes."

JASON Said, "but Why yAwninG? Why not laughiNg, cRyinG Or sHowinG disgUst oR aLarm? ARen't thOse alSo Social signals thAt noRmal peoplE reAcT to?"

"yoU're riGHt; they Are. yawNing conTagion iS JusT oNE ELeMent of the human empaThY COmPlex, but iT's the eASiEsT To use in tHiS coNtexT. tHe sigNals YOu Mention cOuld be USeD, bUt outsiDe Of the lAbOraTorY, in daILy liFe, yawnIng is the EasieST for the tester tO Fake. But a good aCToR COuLD use LauGhing or cryiNg or THe otHers. aNd TheY Would Be harDeR FoR The subject to fake if hE kNew aboUt the Test."

"So Ryan yawNs to see if a PERSon of intEresT AlSO yawns?"

"Exactly. IF a perSon lacks yaWN contagiOn he's More likeLy to lack oTHEr featurEs oF thE emPatHY CoMplex and more lIKEly tO bE a psychOpaTh. It's RyAn's QuiCk aNd dIrTy test for PsychopaThY. HE kNoWs iT's not PErfect, so He ProBaBly Liked OTher thIngs aBout YoU. HE UseS the tesT As ONE facToR iN his JudGmEnt, anD sinCE he Started Doing this He hAS an aLmOsT perfecT record in predIcTing who wouLd LatEr provE, BY their beHavior, to be psychopathic. BUT he keepS thE test A secRet. If everYonE knows AboUT it, the PsychoPaths WoUld LEArn to FAKe It."

"FAsCinating. I wISH I hAd knoWn AbouT it a few Months ago. It might haVE kePt me out of trouBle With THE pIraNHa WHo sTaRTed ALL my problems."

"MaybE it would haVe. sHe Certainly sOUndS lIke a claSsic psyChopaTH."

As they ApproacheD the farm dRiVewaY jAsoN said, "MahalO for helpIng me get mY Stuff. aNd For beIng A frienD wHen i've neEded onE. i caN't telL you hoW mUch I
. But not much progress ha s been mad e. Pr ofe ssi on alsstil l have only qu e stio nnaires and checklists . The yn eeds om ethin g bette r .B r ain  s ca nsan d  b loodtes ts arebeing deve lop ed , but they'r e  s till in th e f uture.

"Rya n r easone dtha t  ther e m ust b e diff e rences  in the w ay psycho p aths re a c tphys iologically to so c ia l  stimuli. He h it onth e  c o n tag ion  of yawnin g,  an i n stinctt ha t p rom o tes sleepines s in the ya w ner  and t ho sew ho wit nessan d  ca tch the yaw n, t hen passit on. It prom o tes syn chroni zed  sl eepa mo ng  agr o upo fani m als , making  t he m bet terf i t  for  acoor dinat ed trek or hu ntwhen the y wak e up.  Itco nfers  survi val a dv antage to the g roup , so it p ers is tsin  theg enes." 

J aso n said,  "But w h y y aw n i n g?  Why not laughing,  c r y in g or sho wing d i sg us t  or alar m?  Ar en't t hosealso so cial sig nals t h at  n ormal p eo ple re ac t t o?" 

"Yo u 'reright;  they ar e. Ya w ning contagion is just one e l em e n to f th e h uman empath y co m plex , bu t  i t's the e asies tt ou se in this context.  T he sig nalsyou mention c ould be us e d ,  but out side of the laboratory , indaily life ,  yawning  is t he easie st for th e tester t o f ake . B uta go od actor coul d usela ughingorcryingorthe  ot her s.  And they  would b eha rd er  fo r the subjectto  fa ke  if  he k n ew abo ut th e te st ." 
"S o Ryany aw n s  tose eif a  pe rs on of  int e res t alsoyawns?"
"Ex a ctly .If  a pers on lacks yawn  c ontagion h e' s m ore li k e ly to la ck other features of th e  empath y c omple x an d more li kel y to b e a psycho path.It'sRy an' s quick a nd  di rt y test for p syc hopat hy . He  knowsit's not perfect,s o h e probably li ked  oth e r  t hin g sa bou ty ou. H e uses the test  as one fa ct o rin his jud g men t,  and si nce hestart e d doing  this hehas an al mo st p e r fec t record i n predic ting whow ouldl at er pr ove , by t he irbehav ior, t o  be  psyc hopath ic . Buthe ke ep s the te st a secret. If everyon e know s abo utit, the p syc h opa ths would  lea rn to fake  it ."
"Fas cin a ting.  I w i sh  Ih ad kn owna bout it a fe w m o n th s ago. It m i g h t h ave k ept me out  oftrouble with thep iranha who sta rted a llmyp robl em s."

"Maybe it  wo ul d have. Sh ecertainly s ounds li ke a cla ssic p sychop ath."
A s  t h ey app roac hed  the farm  dr iv e way Jas on  s a id, "M ahal ofor he lpingm e ge t my stuff. And fo r bei n g  a fr i end  when  I 've nee d ed o ne. I can' t tell youhow mu ch I 
. But_not much_progress has been made._Professionals still_have_only questionnaires_and_checklists. They need_something better. Brain_scans and blood tests_are being developed,_but_they're still in the future.

"Ryan reasoned that there must be differences in the way_psychopaths_react physiologically_to_social_stimuli. He hit on the_contagion of yawning, an instinct_that promotes_sleepiness in the yawner and those who witness_and_catch the yawn,_then pass it on. It promotes synchronized sleep among_a group of animals, making them_better fi t_for_a_coordinated trek or hunt_when they wake up. It confers_survival advantage to the group, so_it persists in the genes."

Jason said, "But_why yawning? Why not laughing, crying_or showing disgust or alarm?_Aren't those_also social signals that normal_people react to?"

"You're_right; they_are. Yawning contagion_is just one element of the_human empathy complex,_but it's the easiest to use_in_this context. The_signals_you_mention could_be used, but_outside_of the_laboratory,_in daily life, yawning is the_easiest_for the tester to fake. But a_good actor could use_laughing_or crying or the_others. And they would be_harder for the subject to fake_if he_knew about_the test."

"So Ryan yawns to see if a person of interest_also yawns?"

"Exactly. If a person lacks_yawn contagion he's more_likely to_lack_other features of_the_empathy complex_and more likely to be a psychopath._It's Ryan's_quick and dirty test for psychopathy._He knows it's not_perfect,_so he probably liked other things_about you. He uses the test_as one factor in his_judgment,_and_since he started doing this_he has an almost perfect record_in predicting who_would later prove, by their behavior, to_be_psychopathic. But he keeps the test_a_secret. If everyone knows about it,_the_psychopaths_would learn to fake it."

"Fascinating._I wish I had known about_it a few months ago. It might have kept_me out of_trouble with the piranha who_started_all_my problems."

"Maybe it would have. She certainly sounds like a_classic psychopath."

As_they approached the_farm driveway Jason said, "Mahalo for helping me get my_stuff. And for being a friend when_I've needed one. I can't tell you how much I