The Psychology Behind Chess

Chess is a physical game on a physical board in front of you. It is a game that is right there, where you can't exactly move anything with thought.

But.... that's not correct.

Chess is a game of thought. Logic. Strategy. All of those are key elements of the game. And since chess is a game of such things, there is psychology behind it. And I have put in the time to research the psychology of chess. This information will hopefully make you a bit more aware of how smart you may become by playing this wonderful game we know as chess.

The Benefits of Playing Chess

Trust me when I say this: Chess is a game that helps you grow and keeps you healthy. Don't believe me? I got you. Follow along.

1. Others' Perspectives

Skilled Chess players learn to anticipate their opponent's moves. To predict what another person will do next, a player must develop the ability to adopt another person's perspective and infer what action they're likely to take. Behavioral scientists call this ability the 'theory of mind'. A study done in 2019 found that chess develops this ability in children who practice the game.

2. Memory

It's not surprising to find that the better a player is at chess, the better memory they have. After all, the game involves remembering numerous combinations of moves and potential outcomes from those moves.

In an experiment, researches compared the ability to recall of chess players and those who have never played in their lives. The chess players were found to have significantly better recall abilities than those without playing chess. They believe this comes from memorizing complex chess positions.

3. Flow State

Flow is a deeply rewarding sense of total involvement, in which you're operating at peak performance in a challenging task. Artistic performers and whatnot describe it as a kind of time warp, where they are so wholly focused that their time awareness vanishes.

Researches studied brain activity and noted that theta waves are heightened in electroencephalograms, or EEGs, taken when people are in a state of flow. Studies show the same levels of theta waves in the brains of chess players during increasingly difficult chess matches.

4. Creativity

Researches in a school in India tested the creative thinking skills of two groups of students. One group were chess players, one was not. The tests asked the students to come up with alternate uses for common items and to interpret patterns and meaning in abstract forms. Those who played chess scored higher than those who don't play, and researches came to the conclusion that chess increased the students' ability to exercise divergent thinking.

5. Planning Skills

This one is obvious. Chess games are known for long periods of silent contemplation, during of which players consider each move. Players spend extended periods of time anticipating their opponents' responses and attempting to predict every eventuality.

This is one of the cognitive health benefits of playing chess. A cognitive function test was given to two groups of people - one who played and one who did not - and measured their planning skills. The group who played chess showed much better planning skills than the group that did not. The people in the chess group also spent more time making decisions during their test.

6. Mental Protection

Chess is shown to protect against the development of dementia. In a 2019 research review, scientists found that the complex mental flexibility chess demands could help protect older people from dementia. They also found that the game, which challenges memory, calculation, and visual-spatial skills, may help reduce cognitive decline and postpone the effects of dementia as you age.

7. ADHD

A 2016 study involving 100 school-age children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), researches included regular chess playing in a multi-faceted treatment approach. Students who participated in this treatment method experienced a 41% decrease in both inattentiveness and over-activity following the course of treatment.

8. Stave off Panic Attacks

Online chess is similar to real chess in the way it helps (though not your eyesight, sorry). While there have not been any large-scale studies to support the use of chess apps, to reduce panic attack symptoms, a 2017 study with an individual who experienced panic attacks was able to use a chess app to increase the sense of calm and keep a panic attack from progressing.

9. Attention Span

Today's world is filled with YouTube Shorts and TikTok. These reduce attention span in the modern world, especially in younger children who have access to such platforms. Chess negates this. Chess has been shown to improve concentration and attention span.

10. Responsibility

This one sounds ridiculous, but it's not. In a game of chess, players must consider the consequences of each move they make. They will take full responsibility for the outcomes of any and all actions they make during the game. This in turn could, while theoretical, improve one's sense of responsibility.

11. Academic Performance

Studies have shown that students who play chess often perform higher on tests than those who don't play the game. This includes subjects such as math and science, as the skills developed transfer to academic settings.

If you are not in a chess club and live with your parents, show this to them and convince them to let you join a chess club! Chess is also a good chance to socialize and meet new people!

So there you have it! That is the psychology behind chess! If you're interested in learning more, feel free to research it, because I'm certain I missed things.

Thank you for reading The Psychology Behind Chess, and thank you for taking your time to read it! Love the support!

**Side Note**

Sorry I have not been posting, many things came up in my life that I could not ignore. I will stop posting Weekly Puzzles until I start posting them again without notice. Even if you have concerns, please do not ask me about it, as I will not give answers. Thank you for your understanding.

- Parody