The Illusion of Closure: Why the Mind Hates Unfinished Stories

In the Netflix original series Stranger Things, the character Mike imagines an alternate ending to the story of Eleven, the protagonist. In this new ending, Eleven survives the battle after destroying the villain Vecna, returning to Hawkins to be with her friends and loved ones, building a nice life. This was different from what actually transpired in the season finale, where Eleven sacrificed her life to save her friends and the town of Hawkins, where all the attacks took place. If one were to ask which ending was more satisfying/preferred, they would choose Mike’s version. And it's no coincidence. There is a psychological underlying reason why we prefer complete endings instead of unpleasant/incomplete ones.

A key theory explaining our resistance towards unfinished endings is the Zeigarnik effect. Discovered by Bluma Zeigarnik in the 1920s, the theory found that people remember incomplete tasks or interrupted activities better than completed ones. The brain marks unfinished experiences as important, keeping them active in memory until they are resolved. In storytelling, this translates to our discomfort with ambiguous endings or open loops. Whenever any story, conversation, or situation remains unresolved, our minds continue to simulate possible outcomes, mentally “finishing” the narrative to reduce cognitive tension, just like how Mike did in Stranger Things. This is why cliffhangers, abrupt endings and unresolved conflicts feel so haunting, given how there isnt any resolution/completion to the plot. 

This desire for narrative completion transcends the realm of fictional stories. In reality, unfinished conversations, ambiguous situations, and unresolved relationships tend to linger in memory and fuel rumination. A text left on read, a fight without any reconciliation, or a life event with no clear ending can occupy mental space far longer than fully resolved situations. The same principle also influences creativity and problem-solving: artists, writers, and thinkers often struggle with “open loops” in their projects, compelled to return until the piece feels complete. Emotionally, our brains treat these unresolved moments as small stressors, subtly shaping mood, behaviour, and even sleep.

While our need for closure is natural, external resolution is not always viable. Relationships end ambiguously, projects can remain incomplete, and some life experiences cannot be completely wrapped up. To manage the discomfort that comes with unfinished stories, some psychological strategies can help. One is mental reframing: consciously accepting ambiguity and imagining a “satisfying ending” in your mind, much like I did with Eleven. Another is ritualization, such as journaling, writing letters, or reflecting on experiences to symbolically close the loop. These approaches allow the brain to mark the narrative as complete internally, reducing rumination without requiring external resolution.

In the end, human minds are storytellers, constantly seeking coherence and meaning in experiences. The illusion of closure explains why incomplete stories, ambiguous situations, and unresolved interactions tug at our attention long after they occur. Recognizing this natural cognitive drive allows us to address it creatively and intentionally. By learning to simulate endings mentally or create symbolic closure through reflection, we can navigate life’s open loops more peacefully, finding a sense of completion even when the world refuses to provide it.