The Zeigarnik effect is a theory attributed to Lithuanian psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik describing the tendency of the human memory to remember interrupted or incomplete tasks more easily than completed ones. For example, you might remember more about things you’re currently working on or are not quite finished with yet. If you become interrupted while working on something, you may remember more about that task, too. However, you could also be more likely to forget the details of tasks completed in full, uninterrupted. This is because the human brain has a tendency to “dump” or erase information that may no longer be needed, removing it from your memory.
The best way to understand the Zeigarnik effect is to look at some real-life examples. Picture yourself athome watching your favorite TV show. At the end of the episode, it ends with a cliff-hanger. You might be eager to learn more because the story is unfinished. That’s the Zeigarnik effect. Another example of the Zeigarnik effect is typically found in education. It’s common for students to take exams in school that require studying and cramming before the exam. But once the exam is over, they might experience difficulty recalling the information they learned. This lapse in memory is because the student’s brain might tell them they no longer have use for the information learned for the test and remove it from memory.
The Zeigarnik effect theory may point to a positive impact on mental health. First, the subconscious mind will urge your conscious mind to make a detailed plan when presented with a task. As soon as the plan comes to fruition, the subconscious no longer needs to remind the conscious mind to work toward the goal. The result is a more relaxed mind. When the Zeigarnik effect is active in the brain, you may constantly be setting goals for yourself. So, you might be focused on making plans to accomplish those goals. You might be so focused on your goals, you don’t stop planning and following those plans until the task is complete.
The downside of the Zeigarnik effect may be that when active, someone might never stop setting goals or tasks. Your mind may become “stuck,” always preoccupied with looking for the next accomplishment to tackle.
THE ZEIGARNICK. Disponível em: psychcentral.com>health>zeigarnik-effect# Acesso em: out. 2023. Adaptado.
Considering the theory of the Zeigarnik effect, the text says:
I) People are more likely to forget things they have not yet finished.
II) Interruption during a task can improve one’s ability to remember it afterwards.
III) Accomplishment of a plan produces an effect on mental health, as it brings relaxation.
IV) Unfinished tasks create mental tension, which can impact performance.
V) A negative effect of the Zeigarnik effect is that it requires no plans when we’re performing a task.
According to the text, the correct statements are only