Zeigarnik effect what is ..

Have you ever been talking with a friend and you were trying to tell them about a song you love but you just can’t remember the name of the artist who sung it?

You sit and struggle to remember. You sing a couple of lines, quietly in your head. But no matter how hard you try the artist name just doesn’t come to mind. Finally you give up and tell your friend when you remember you will text them.

Later you continue to fight against your memory not wanting to cheat and do a google search. “Can I really not remember who sung “Don’t stop believing”?” How is that even possible?

Why do you continue to try and remember that Tyler Perry was the lead singer? That it took the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame entirely to long to induct them?

Well the reason you fight with your memory for the answer maybe the result of the Zeigarnik Effect.

The Zeigarnik Effect is our mind’s struggle with “incompleteness” and our mind’s desire to resolve it.

If you are thinking where do we see this in our day to day lives, does this affect the things we enjoy or how is it used in marketing?

Are you wondering about my music bonafides as if I really don’t know that Journey sings “Don’t Stop Believing” and Tyler Perry is a much better frontman than Steven Tyler? “Well don’t.”

So the little distraction was just a poor attempt to have you experience the Zeigarnik Effect, but you likely will have another chance when you stream your new favorite show on Netflix, watch cable news (if you are so inclined) or see an infomercial full of “wait the is more.”

So next time you can’t stop trying to remember what’s else is on your list to do today, what was the other thing you needed to from the grocery store or which is the only candy with the cookie crunch you are experiencing the Zeigarnik Effect.

Embrace it and