The Zeigarnik effect is an important concept in psychology that explains why people tend to particularly focus on unfinished tasks. This effect is based on a study conducted by Lithuanian psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik in 1927, which indicates that people have a tendency to pay more attention to incomplete tasks. In this article, we will explore what the Zeigarnik effect is, how it works, and how it is observed in our daily lives.
The Zeigarnik effect was discovered by Bluma Zeigarnik through an intriguing observation between a student, a waitress, and a psychologist dealing with waiters. Zeigarnik noticed that waiters remembered orders but only forgot them once the orders were completed. Continuing to think about unfinished tasks prompted Zeigarnik to initiate relevant experiments.
Zeigarnik conducted experiments to demonstrate that unfinished tasks attract people's attention and are more vividly stored in their memories. In one of these experiments, participants were given a series of puzzles and had enough time to solve some but not others. The results showed that participants were more likely to remember the puzzles they had not completed compared to those they had completed.
In another experiment, Zeigarnik asked participants to complete half of the tasks on a list and leave the other half incomplete. Participants later had difficulty recalling the tasks they had completed. These experiments proved that the Zeigarnik effect leads to better remembrance of unfinished tasks.
The psychological foundations of the Zeigarnik effect are complex, but essentially, it is believed that unfinished tasks create a mental tension and this tension motivates people to complete the task. Unfinished tasks lead the brain to form a kind of "open loop," and to close this loop, people are motivated to return to unfinished tasks.
Additionally, it is thought that uncertainty and expectations underlie the Zeigarnik effect. Unfinished tasks create a situation where expectations are not met, and people are driven to think and act to fulfill these expectations. Therefore, the Zeigarnik effect reflects a situation where people are inclined to focus more and exert more effort.
The Zeigarnik effect is commonly observed in our daily lives. Unfinished tasks at work, home, or school occupy people's thoughts. For example, having an unfinished project lingering in your mind can motivate you to complete the project. Similarly, students who keep thinking about exams may be prompted to study.
The Zeigarnik effect is also widely used in marketing and advertising. Advertisers can utilize the Zeigarnik effect to capture consumers' attention and motivate them to purchase a product. For instance, when an advertisement hints that the features of a product are not fully explained and will be revealed in the next advertisement, consumers become curious and make efforts to learn more about the product.
The Zeigarnik effect can be considered as part of motivation. Unfinished tasks can motivate people to take action and complete the tasks. Motivation theories examine how factors such as goal setting, meeting expectations, and expectation of rewards influence motivation. The Zeigarnik effect plays an important role in explaining how expectations and goals influence people's behaviors.
In conclusion, the Zeigarnik effect is an important psychological concept that explains why people tend to particularly focus on unfinished tasks and how these tasks create a mental tension. This effect helps us understand how unfinished tasks affect expectations and goals. The Zeigarnik effect reflects a situation commonly observed in our daily lives and plays a significant role as part of motivation.
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