🧠 The Zeigarnik Effect
How “Unfinished Business” Boosts Course Completion Rates
Ever started a Netflix series just to “see what the hype’s about”… then accidentally watched 4 episodes?
That’s the Zeigarnik Effect.
A 1920s psychologist noticed waiters in a café remembered unpaid orders better than paid ones. Why? Because the task wasn’t complete. Our brains hate open loops.
We’re biologically wired to want closure.
This is good news if you're a course creator, coach, or consultant because your audience’s unfinished progress might be your most powerful engagement tool.
Here’s where most course creators mess up:
They build perfect modules… and release them all at once.
But when everything’s available, nothing feels urgent.
No tension. No anticipation. No “I need to finish this.”
Now flip it.
What if your course kept the loop open? What if your onboarding email ended with “next step coming soon”? What if your module ended mid-thought… then teased what’s next?
Suddenly, your client isn't done yet. And that “undone” feeling? It keeps them checking in.
💡 Want more completions? Create more tension.
Zeigarnik, Activated: How to Use “Unfinished” to Drive Results
Most people treat their content like a dinner plate. They load it up, serve it hot and hope nobody leaves anything behind.
But the smartest creators?
They serve the appetizer… and make you crave the main course.
In the next section, you’ll see the exact 3 ways to open loops inside your content, including the counterintuitive tactic that makes people feel more satisfied even when they’re left hanging.
