Certainly. Your saliva is an enzyme. It is required for digestion. You want to mix your food up with it as much as possible.
Not to mention chewing breaks the food into smaller and smaller bits. And, of course, you end up eating less.
Your body is constantly monitoring your blood for sugar and nutrient content. When something dips below normal, you get hungry.(Yes, I know its more complex than that, I'm just trying to make a point.)
The sad thing is.. when you're hungry, and you go to McDonalds.. you're not actually giving your body anything but raw calories, and maybe some iron. :Q