What apps do you have on your phone? Most people list social media apps, various messenger apps, banking apps, and a modern game or two among the applications installed on their smart devices. But only a few would say Alexey Pajitnov’s Tetris.
What if we told you that playing Tetris could reduce your cravings for temptations such as food and drink?
Would that make you download the almost four-decade-old game?
Is there some truth behind the claims that Tetris can help one fight off guilty pleasures?
Verdict:
TRUE
Psychologists from the University of Plymouth in England found that playing the Russian puzzle game for as little as three minutes at a time can weaken desires not only for food but also for alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs.
The researchers posit that the “Tetris effect” occurs because both cravings and Tetris engage the brain's visualisation processes.
“Episodes of craving normally only last a few minutes, during which time an individual is visualising what they want and the reward it will bring,” explains Professor Jackie Andrade, the study co-author.
In other words, when playing a visually engaging game such as Tetris, the brain doesn’t have time to cook up tempting images of fried chicken or cake.
By the time you have finished a session, the most decisive moment of desire has passed, and you are less likely to give in to whatever craving you were trying to resist.
“As a support tool, Tetris could help people manage their cravings in their daily lives and over extended periods,” said Professor Andrade, noting that these benefits persisted over the one-
week research period.
The psychology behind the “Tetris effect” can be applied to any highly visual activity.
Key takeaway: it’s not about fighting a losing battle against your cravings but walking away (or distracting yourself) from them.
References:
1. sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150813101535.htm
2. www.spring.org.uk/2022/01/cravings-for-drink.php
3. www.cnet.com/science/craving-junk-food-or-a-smoke-try-tetris-instead/
4. www.glamour.com/story/playing-tetris-food-cravings-lose-weight
