Social psychologist Matt Baldwin wakes up thinking about the yellow and green boxes of Wordle, the free, once-a-day word game that has gained millions

Why we love Wordle, according to science

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2022-01-25 08:30:05

Social psychologist Matt Baldwin wakes up thinking about the yellow and green boxes of Wordle, the free, once-a-day word game that has gained millions of fans since its public launch in October. Unlike most players, though, he understands why our brains crave it.

Baldwin, a University of Florida professor, points to several psychological concepts that may explain our infatuation with the simple but sharable game.

The moment at the end of the puzzle when the answer is revealed delivers what psychologists call a sudden influx of fluency — something we’re hard-wired to pursue, Baldwin explains.

“Even when you don't get it, and the answer is revealed, finding that solution feels good," he said. "That feeling of fluency is something that we seek out not only in games, but also when we're trying to solve a problem in our work or in our relationships.”

Entering year three of the pandemic, “we're overwhelmed. Things can't hold our attention because we're so bombarded with COVID stuff,” Baldwin said.

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