People who are over dramatic in an OTB game, why?

In a recent OTB game I played against this guy who was so over the top dramatic when playing against me. He would make the most cringe facial expressions when in deep thought. When he made a pawn sacrifice he slammed the pawn on the board, hit his clock so everybody can hear and walked away. During the game someone was talking about this little dispute, his opponent adjusted his piece when it wasn't his turn so he called the arbiter. My opponent put his hands on his ears as if it was actually distracting while making disgusting facial expressions. 

People who act like they’re in Searching for Bobby Fischer, why?

cuz cringe

On 19 January 2017, my opponent left the board looking for a pen while it was his move. When he finally returned ten minutes later, he showed me that he had written TRUMP on his forehead and said his purpose was to distract me (we've known each other more than forty years). I laughed, said it wouldn't work, and proceeded to make three inaccurate moves. Soon, I was strategically lost. Then, he blew it and resigned one move before checkmate about five moves later.


That I was strategically lost early in a game against a much weaker opponent is proof that drama works.

Whatever the reason, it can't be that chess attracts egocentric people that have an inflated sense of both their own ability and the importance of their chess game. That doesn't ring true ... wait.

We all know that club player who's ~1500 but thinks they're about 500 points underrated. If only other people could realise how much they really understand about chess

drugs

oh yeah I remember that game

A tool of distraction maybe

Exactly, concentrate on your game.

Years ago I was playing OTB art the World Open in Philly. My opponent made a really strong move which should have won the game. I didn't react to his move, I just focused and played the best defensive move that I could find. My opponent misplayed the next few moves and we ended in a draw. Afterwords he admitted to me that my lack of response to his move unnerved him. He knew he had played a winning move, but when I didn't panic or show any sign of distress he began to doubt the strength of his move and played the rest of the game with a lack of confidence.

Focus on the board, play the best move you can find and don't let stuff distract you.

That is a great story.  Fischer said he didn't believe in psychology.  Only good moves.  Well, your story proves him wrong.