The Zeigarnik Effect is a phenomenon in which people are more likely to complete tasks given short, intermittent, and meaningful deadlines. It is named after Bluma Zeigarnik, a Soviet psychologist who first described the effect in 1920.
The Zeigarnik Effect can be explained in terms of two hypothetical scenarios. In the first scenario, the person tries to complete a task but finds it difficult. They start to work on the task, but their mind keeps wandering. After a while, they’ve completed only a small part of the task, and their mind is still busy thinking about other things. They continue to work on the task, but now it’s taking longer because their mind is focused on the smaller part of the task that they’ve completed.
In the second scenario, the person starts working on the task but finds it difficult. They start to work on the task, but their mind is still busy thinking about other things. After a while, they completed the entire task. Their mind was focused on the task the whole time, even when it was difficult.
The Zeigarnik Effect is not limited to humans; it can also be seen in animals. For example, studies have shown that rats are more likely to find a food reward if given short, intermittent, and meaningful delays rather than long, indefinite, and unspecific delays.
