Ovsiankina effect

The Ovsiankina effect is the tendency to pick up an interrupted action again when it has still not been achieved. It is named after its researcher, Maria Ovsiankina.

The effect states that an interrupted task, even without incentive, values as a "quasi-need". It creates intrusive thoughts, aimed at taking up the task again.

This can be explained by Kurt Lewin's field theory, which points that an interrupted action is condition for a strained system. It also leads to a better remembering of the unfinished action over a vacant one (Zeigarnik effect).

Further investigations of Lewin-pupils Kate Lissner and Wera Mahler showed that this trend does not come into play when the action is an easement of the system.