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This content has been automatically translated from Ukrainian.
Have you ever left a task unfinished, and then it returns to your thoughts more than once, giving you no peace? Maybe it was an unwritten article, a forgotten job or a promise that they didn't have time to fulfill? No matter how distracted you try, this thought does not leave you. This phenomenon, which we often experience, got its name in honor of the Soviet psychologist Blumy Zeigarnyk and became known as Zeigarnik effect.
What is the Zeigarnik effect?
The Zeigarnik effect – is a psychological phenomenon in which unfinished tasks or tasks are remembered much better than completed ones. That is, the more something is not completed, the more our mind tends to hold information about it, trying to reach a logical conclusion. This is a phenomenon that we all feel on ourselves, although we cannot always explain why we cannot get rid of thoughts about the unfinished.
How does it work?
Before we consider why we cannot leave the unfinished in peace, let us look at the experiment that discovered this phenomenon. Bluma Zeigarnyk, working in the 1920s at the university, conducted a series of studies in which she asked participants to perform various tasks. After the participants completed part of the tasks, Zeigarnyk allowed them to interrupt without completing them. It turned out that the participants remembered the unfinished tasks much better than those that were completed to the end.
This may seem illogical. How can it be that the unfinished is remembered better than the completed? The answer lies in psychology: our brain, keeping incomplete information, considers it more important for further processing, striving for completion. It is an innate property of our thinking that helps us organize and close important matters to avoid inconvenience or anxiety.
Why does this happen?
The zeigarnik effect is based on closure needs <TAG1> desire to finish what they started. Our brain feels internal discomfort until the task is completed, and that is why it constantly returns to it, causing thoughts about the unfinished. This compares to an open tab in the browser: when you have not closed it, your attention will constantly return to this unfinished business, even if you do not want it.
An important part of this effect is that the unfinished task not only takes up our thoughts, but also causes emotional tension. This can lead to anxiety or stress as the brain tries to find a solution to complete it.
Zeigarnik effect in real life
You and I are faced with this psychological phenomenon every day. Here are some examples of when the Zeigarnik effect is observed in real life:
- Unfinished work tasks. If you leave the project at work half-ready, it will constantly distract you until you complete it. Even if you have other important tasks, the mind will return again and again to what is not completed.
- Worrying thoughts after the conversation. After a discussion where you have not expressed all your thoughts or have been unable to achieve clarity, the conversation can leave an unpleasant impression on your mind. You think about it over and over again, trying to find an answer to a question or a continuation of this discussion.
- Unfinished creative projects. You may have put off writing an article, book, or painting, and now your consciousness is constantly returning to this unfinished work, which is disturbing to you.
- Personal relationship. If there are unfinished conversations or unspoken emotions, it can create inexplicable tension that prevents you from moving forward.
How to use the Zeigarnik effect to your advantage?
This phenomenon can not only be explained, but also used to increase productivity. Here are some ways to do this:
- Break down big tasks into smaller ones. If you have a big task, break it down into small stages. Thanks to this, you will constantly feel the satisfaction of small achievements and will probably be able to maintain concentration.
- Start new tasks. Instead of constantly postponing tasks for later, start doing them. Even a few minutes of project work can help the brain «to fix» start and stimulate you to finish.
- Use this effect in marketing. The zeigarnik effect is actively used by marketers. For example, in television shows, unresolved conflicts or intrigues are often used to attract the attention of viewers, because unfinished moments do not give rest, forcing them to continue watching.
- Close open tasks. If you feel that it is difficult for you to complete a task, try to take the time to finally complete it. Completing a case often brings a feeling of relief and frees the mind from unnecessary stress.
This phenomenon reminds us of the importance of completing what we have started and gives us more control over our lives.
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