Exploring the Psychology of Mazes

Today I want to dig a bit deeper on my favorite topic, mazes. Specifically I want to talk a little about…

The Psychology of Mazes

Mazes have captivated the human imagination for centuries, their intricate pathways and perplexing turns a timeless source of fascination for people of all ages. But what is it about these puzzling creations that draws us in? What makes them so universally appealing?

There are a few psychological reasons why we enjoy mazes. First, mazes are challenging, requiring us to use our problem-solving skills and spatial reasoning abilities to find our way out. This process can be both frustrating and exhilarating.

Second, mazes can be a way to escape from the everyday world; when we enter a maze, we are transported to a different world, one full of mystery and intrigue, offering a welcome relief from the stresses and demands of everyday life.

Third, mazes can be a way to learn about ourselves; as we navigate a maze, we learn about our strengths and weaknesses, and how to cope with frustration and uncertainty.

In addition to these psychological benefits, mazes can also be used for therapeutic purposes; for example, mazes have been used to help people with anxiety, phobias, memory loss, and dementia.

Here are a few more specific psychological effects that mazes can have on people, starting with two negative things:

  • Mazes can increase stress levels; the uncertainty and challenge of navigating a maze can trigger the release of stress hormones in the body.

  • Mazes can increase negative feelings. Frustration, anxiety, helplessness, and discouragement are all negative feelings that can be felt by a person lost in a maze, unable to find their way out.

And of course we have a long list of maze benefits:

  • Mazes can improve spatial reasoning skills. By requiring people to think about their surroundings in a three-dimensional way, they help improve spatial reasoning skills, which are important for many everyday tasks, such as driving and reading maps.

  • Mazes can improve problem-solving skills. Mazes require people to think critically and come up with creative solutions to find their way out, which can help to improve problem-solving skills, which are important for many aspects of life.

  • Mazes can improve memory. By requiring people to remember their surroundings and the paths they have taken, they help to improve memory, which is important for many aspects of life, such as learning and retaining information.

  • Mazes can improve mood. The sense of accomplishment that comes from finding your way out of a maze can release endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects.

In Conclusion, mazes offer a unique blend of challenge, escape, and self-discovery. They tap into our innate problem-solving instincts while providing a welcome respite from the everyday world. Whether we're navigating a complex labyrinth or simply tracing our fingers through a puzzle book, mazes offer a captivating journey into the heart of our psychology. So, the next time you encounter a maze, embrace the challenge, and allow yourself to get wonderfully lost in the journey. You might be surprised by what you discover about yourself and the world around you.

Additional blog posts you may like:

The Surprising Benefits of Solving Mazes

What I Learned Using AI to Make Maze Art

The 10 Most Famous Labyrinths from Around the World

What I've Learned Making Mazes

Maze Comic Book Cover #57 - Sssssslither

Issue #57 in my comic book cover series is called Sssssslither and features a new maze of a Snake. When you read Snake it to the Limit do you automatically sing in your head “one more time” ? Asking for a friend.

My comic book cover mazes can be found in 2 places:

Comic Book Cover Mazes - Year 1 (Issues #1-53)

Comic Book Cover Mazes - Year 2

Snake Maze Comic Book

To receive a book of my first year of comic book book mazes (Volume 1 with mazes #1-53) you can sign up for my book alerts - any time I launch a free maze book, or paid book (on Amazon), I will send you a note about the new book launch.

Maze of the Week 45 Redux - Air Force Cadet Chapel (MOTW#161)

This is one of the first mazes I made in perspective view vs. flat. It inspired me to try new ways of making future mazes. I find the architecture of this building to be wonderful. I don’t think I captured it in my initial maze and so I wanted to go back and try to improve it. Here is my original post for reference:

Maze of the Week #45 - Air Force Cadet Chapel Maze

Here are the enhancements I made to improve the maze:

1. Re-oriented the maze. I lowered the chapel on the page to show more sky.

2. Added a wall. I added some minor wall detail to the bottom of the maze so the building was no longer floating.

3. Added horizon elements. I added ground in the horizon at the back of the chapel and I added a building in the background bottom right. I also added a sky !

4. Start Goal Changed. Switched from arrows to START and GOAL written out. It fits better and looks better. Then I also changed the positions of each in the maze.

5. New Maze. As I made the changes I realized I wanted to re-do the maze - so it is completely new. In order to so this I extended various panels to create more of a grid like structure on the roof to make the maze. I also increased the pathway size through walls to make them easier to navigate.

6. New colorations. I colored the side window panels dark navy and changed the pane decoration to grey from black and white before to more accurately reflect the chapel. Changed the railing color from black to grey. And, oh yeah, I colored the entire maze !

7. Added many new details. I added new detailed inner window on front right of the church (previously this was left out). I added 3 sets of doors in front (previously shown as only blocks). I added a second hand rail on the front steps - previously I only had one set. I changed the internal panels (on the rook) from curved ends to flat ends to better reflect the actual building structure

8. Added branding. Added my branding to the bottom right corner (there was none before)

9. Title changes. Changed the font of title, reduced the size of location and added USA, while changing the color from black to white.

10. Added Shadows. A building like this has many shadows that make it more interesting so I added some.

And here is the before and after:

When you see a picture of the Chapel the white building pops against the blue sky background. I think this new version captures this. I prefer the new version by a wide margin.

Some data: The new file is 283MB from 99MB.

I will be replacing the homepage with the new maze going forward. You can find the maze download there !

If you like this type of content check out all of my case studies:

A Collection of Maze Design Case Studies to Improve your Mazes

What I've Learned Making Mazes

Happy maze-ing !

10 of the Most Frequently asked Questions about Labyrinths, with Answers

Mazes and labyrinths are often confused, but they offer vastly different experiences. While I've previously tackled common maze questions ( 10 Frequently Asked Questions About Mazes with Answers), it's time to unravel the mysteries surrounding labyrinths. Here are 10 common labyrinth questions, with answers to guide you through their winding paths and calming purpose. But before we get to the questions, here is a brief summary to give labyrinths some historical context:

Labyrinths Through the Ages

Labyrinths have captivated humans for centuries, appearing in various forms across diverse cultures. Their origins remain shrouded in mystery, but evidence suggests they date back over 4,000 years.

  • Ancient Beginnings: Early examples of labyrinthine patterns have been discovered in numerous locations, including:

    • Crete: The legendary labyrinth of King Minos, said to house the fearsome Minotaur, is perhaps the most famous example from Greek mythology.

    • Ancient Rome: Romans incorporated labyrinth designs into mosaics and architecture.

    • Scandinavia: Stone carvings and petroglyphs featuring labyrinthine forms have been found throughout the region.

    • Native American Cultures: Labyrinths hold spiritual significance in many Native American traditions, such as the Tohono O'odham and Hopi tribes.

  • Medieval Resurgence: Labyrinths experienced a revival in the Middle Ages, often appearing in cathedrals and churches. These labyrinths were frequently used for symbolic pilgrimages or meditative practices.

10 of the most frequently asked questions about labyrinths, with answers:

What is a labyrinth ?

  • A labyrinth is a single, winding path that leads to a center point and back out again. Unlike a maze, there are no dead ends or choices to make. It's a unicursal path, meaning there's only one way to go.  

How is a labyrinth different from a maze?

  • Mazes are designed to be puzzles with branching paths, dead ends, and multiple solutions, while labyrinths have a single, non-branching path with no dead ends, meant to be meditative and contemplative, not challenging. You cannot get lost in a labyrinth if you continue following the path. For a fun look at this, check out my post, Is There a Difference Between a Maze and a Labyrinth ?

Square Labyrinth vs Square Maze

Square Labyrinth vs Square Maze

Why the continued confusion between mazes and labyrinths ?

  • Simply put, many languages use one word to describe both versions. The Romance languages are a good example of this. If you translate the word maze or labyrinth from English into Italian or Portuguese they are both labirinto, Spanish would be laberinto, and French is labyrinthe. Because of this you can find many hedge mazes around the world that are called labyrinths, furthering the confusion, like the Villa Pisani Labirinto (a beautiful hedge maze) , or in the opposite direction the Man in the Maze (a Native American labyrinth type).

  • The word maze is the newer word, with Germanic roots from the 15th Century. It likely comes from the Middle English word "mase," meaning "confusion" or "delusion".

What is the purpose of a labyrinth?

  • Labyrinths have been used for centuries for various purposes, including:

    • Spiritual practice: Walking a labyrinth can be a form of meditation, prayer, or contemplation.  

    • Personal reflection: The journey to the center and back can symbolize a journey of self-discovery or problem-solving.  

    • Stress reduction: The repetitive walking pattern can be calming and help to clear the mind.  

    • Creative inspiration: The labyrinth's design can spark new ideas and perspectives.  

How do I walk a labyrinth?

  • There's no right or wrong way. You can walk at your own pace, pausing for reflection as you wish. Some people walk with a specific intention or question in mind.  There are suggestions on how to approach a labyrinth, based on the experience you seek.

    Here are some labyrinth walking tips:

  • Set an intention for your walk, such as prayer, reflection, meditation, contemplation, or openness, so you can walk with purpose.

  • Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as you will be doing a lot of walking depending on the labyrinths size.

  • Take your time and enjoy the experience. There is no need to rush through a labyrinth.

  • Be respectful of other visitors. This includes not making noise and being respectful if walking with other people.

What are the different types of labyrinths?

  • There are many different labyrinth designs, but some of the most common include:

    • Classical: The oldest and most well-known, with seven circuits.  

    • Medieval: Often found in cathedrals, with 11 circuits.  

    • Contemporary: Modern designs with varying patterns and sizes.  

  • Less common types include:

    • Man in the Maze: A symbol from the Tohono O'Odham nation. Learn details about it here, or here, and here

    • Caerdroia Labyrinth: A type of Welsh turf maze based on the Cretan labyrinth design

    • Hopi Tapu'at Labyrinth: Native American Labyrinth, the “Mother and Child” symbol.

Can I create my own labyrinth?

  • Yes! You can create a temporary labyrinth with materials like stones, candles, or even tape. There are also resources available for designing and building permanent labyrinths.  

  • If you want to draw a labyrinth on a piece of paper, I have that covered for many different types in my How to Draw a Labyrinth section of the website.


What are some resources for learning more about labyrinths?

  • The Labyrinth Society - ”The Labyrinth Society is a diverse community of labyrinth enthusiasts and we welcome all who create, use, and experience labyrinths.”

  • Veriditas - Can best be described by quoting their mission from their website “Veriditas is dedicated to inspiring personal and planetary change and renewal through the labyrinth experience. We accomplish our mission by training and supporting labyrinth facilitators around the world, and offering meaningful events that promote further understanding of the labyrinth as a tool for personal and community transformation.”

  • Lauren Artress website - For coaching, workshops and classes.

What are some good books about labyrinths ?

So, after learning all this information you might want to walk a labyrinth:

Where can I find a labyrinth to walk?

  • Worldwide Labyrinth Finder is the best site to find a labyrinth near you.

  • Labyrinths can be found in a variety of settings, including: Churches and cathedrals, parks and gardens, hospitals and retreat centers, schools and universities and even some private homes.

  • I have written a series of blog posts by state highlighting some of the best public labyrinths in the US.

You May Also like:

The different types of mazes and labyrinths

How Corn Mazes are Made - A Collection of Corn Maze Videos

The Louvre Maze, Santo Domingo Maze, Pro Football HOF Maze