ASSIGNMENT : ZEIGARNIK EFFECT

By :
Jainam Shah (M023)
Shubham Sharma (M025)

Zeigarnik effect was discovered by Bluma Wulfovna Zeigarnik.

Zeigarnik first studied the phenomenon after her professor,
noticed that a waiter had better recollections of still unpaid
orders. However, after the completion of the task after
everyone had paid he was unable to remember any more
details of the orders.
The Zeigarnik Effect is the tendency to experience intrusive
thoughts about an objective that was once pursued and left
incomplete. The automatic system signals the conscious mind,
which may be focused on new goals, that a previous activity
was left incomplete. It seems to be human nature to finish what
we start and, if it is not finished, we experience dissonance.
The advantage of remembrance can be explained by looking at
Lewins field theory: a task that has already been started
establishes a task-specific tension, which improves cognitive
accessibility of the relevant contents. This tension that has
formerly been established is being relieved upon completion of
the task. In case of task interruption the reduction of tension is
being impeded. Through continuous tension the content is
easier accessible and it can be easily remembered.
The Zeigarnik effect suggests that students who suspend their
study, during which they do unrelated activities (such as
studying unrelated subjects or playing games), will remember
material better than students who complete study sessions
without a break.

In conclusion, memory is a good indicator as to whether people

continue to be interrupted by thoughts of incomplete tasks.
Constant thoughts of incomplete task components cause it to
be retained in memory better. Interruptions that cause a person
to fall behind in their objective also cause anxiety that brings
about constant thoughts of unfinished business.