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Ovsiankina showed that the Zeigarnik effect disappears if the subjects are allowed to complete the uncompleted tasks.68 Kurt Lewin has attempted a theoretical explanation by postulating that to begin an activity of any kind creates a tension which persists until that activity is finished and accounts for the uncompleted activity being retained in memory. Experiments which have been performed by other psychologists have qualified the results obtained by Zeigarnik. More recent evidence indicates that the Zeigarnik effect applies only to memory for tasks performed without emotional stress. Although people differ widely in this respect, it has been found that, where a person feels that not completing the task threatens his self-esteem, or in other ways places him under emotional stress, the opposite trend occurs. That is to say, when a person is labouring under emotional stress, a completed task is remembered better than an uncompleted one. The practical application of this principle is that, if you are worried about getting through your work, you will remember what you read better by finishing the chapter than by not finishing it. On the other hand, if you are not worried, you will remember better by breaking off before you complete the chapter. In such cases it would seem that the tendency to suppress unpleasant memories is stronger than the Zeigarnik effect, thus making it easier to recall the completed than the uncompleted task. The Zeigarnik effect is illustrated by the following experience.' I have studied only six lessons,' said a student. 'I want to complete the course. Unless I can do this I shall continue to have a feeling of something left undone. The unfinished thing is never attractive and I feel it is a nagging wound.' Here is another illustration. A woman went to church when she was too poor to put anything in the collection plate. Soon afterwards she moved away from the neighbourhood and ceased to attend that particular church. But the incident continued to trouble her. Years later, when her circumstances had improved, she sent the rector a cheque for ÂŁ25 with a note which said that she had felt guilty for many years and wished to make good her omission. This is another example of an uncompleted task being well remembered. Should failure be associated with a completed task instead of with an uncompleted one, the Zeigarnik effect is reversed. That is to say,