Zeigarnik Effect

The Zeigarnik Effect refers to the increased memorability of an incomplete task that has been involuntarily interrupted. The effect occurs when an individual is distracted or interrupted while engaged in a task, such that the memory of the task is better than for an identical task which is completed without interruption. It is named after Bluma Zeigarnik, the Estonian psychologist who first proposed this idea in the 1920s.

The Zeigarnik effect explains why people find unfinished tasks more difficult to forget than completed tasks, even if the task is something mundane. Even though the task may not have been completed on purpose, the task will stay in our memory until it is finished. Unfinished tasks are more likely to stay in our memory than completed tasks, as the brain is focused on completing the task and cannot ignore its existence.

This effect is especially important when trying to motivate yourself to complete a task. It can be helpful to break down a larger task into smaller, more manageable parts. This makes it easier to remember what has to be done and provides motivation to get it done, as it will be harder to forget about it if it is not finished.

Take a look at the example below to see how the Zeigarnik effect can be useful in the real world.

Suppose you are working on a project and you only have a few hours to finish it. You start working on the project and then something happens that causes you to stop working on it. Now that the task is incomplete, you’re more likely to remember it and complete it before the deadline, since you won’t be able to ignore the task’s existence. The Zeigarnik effect can help you to remember what needs to be done and make sure that the task is completed in time.

Overall, the Zeigarnik effect can be very useful when trying to motivate yourself to complete tasks. Breaking down a larger task into smaller ones can help you to remember what needs to be done, and the effect can help you to stay motivated to finish the task.