Those are the stereotypes but as always they don t apply.
From Simple Psychology:
Definition: A stereotype is “...a fixed, over generalized belief about a particular group or class of people.” (Cardwell, 1996).
For example, a “hells angel” biker dresses in leather.
One advantage of a stereotype is that it enables us to respond rapidly to situations because we may have had a similar experience before.
One disadvantage is that it makes us ignore differences between individuals; therefore we think things about people that might not be true (i.e. make generalizations).
The use of stereotypes is a major way in which we simplify our social world; since they reduce the amount of processing (i.e. thinking) we have to do when we meet a new person.
By stereotyping we infer that a person has a whole range of characteristics and abilities that we assume all members of that group have. Stereotypes lead to social categorization, which is one of the reasons for prejudice attitudes (i.e. “them” and “us” mentality) which leads to in-groups and out-groups.
He is:
male
25-30 years old
single
heterosexual
(rating about 1200 1300)
He has an IQ about 120
He has always a sixpack of beer at hand
He is:
conservative
nerdy,
intellectual,
socially awkward,
quirky,
quiet,
and crazy.
Yep, that mostly describes me. Except for the beer, IQ and rating.
"conservative"
that MAY not apply much is the USA. the college crowd is strongly liberal.
the "conservative" stereotype is NO more accurate than the chess stereotype, but it doesn't usually include a great interest in chess.
so (in the US) the stereotype is for a liberal player or perhaps a libertarian.
I also think as a Stereotype, that 1200-1300 is NOT right At all.
it might be the Average but the Stereotype is of a strong club player. (1600-1800).
We are all like that or worse in somelike me. But 1200-1300 rating.. maybe i judge wrong and forgat how much time i spent.. but at that level players don't know much really and still bunder pieces for free. You don't have to study hard and memorize stuff, you have only to solve some tactics and double check after each move and you will be a lot higher rated. And you will feel better about yourself, you will win a lot more and that wasted time will not be for nothing.
the point is -
are we talking about what the stereotype is, OR what reality is.
many chess players May look and perhaps act like the stereotype, but they are Not as strong as some people make them out to be.
in fact, you may say this is the whole problem with being a nerd. people assume your brilliant, but in truth your more "fashion- disabled" than anything else. Brilliant? no not so much...
27 year old sports, car, all the pleasures in life enthusiast that manages a sports centre for a university, played chess at school but all my friends were charvers (chavs - don't know what american term for it is) so didn't really advertise that fact, recently restarted playing chess because found myself not being mentally challenged in my job, massively outgoing, massively liberal and certainly not socially awkward, although I do have a dislike for people in general haha
Chess does have a stigma attached to it because when I tell friends, work colleagues etc that I enjoy it and consider myself adept enough at it... they all just laugh! So yes I guess you do have that stereotypical idea of a chess player but you will get players from all walks of life... personally I only played because my family played and I found i enjoyed it... it's as simple as that :)
He is:
male
25-30 years old
single
heterosexual
(rating about 1200 1300)
He has an IQ about 120
He has always a sixpack of beer at hand
He is:
conservative
nerdy,
intellectual,
socially awkward,
quirky,
quiet,
and crazy.