Caligula effect

This phenomenon refers to the heightened desire and attraction towards something that is prohibited or restricted. This phenomenon, also known as the Streisand Effect, is driven by the impulse to engage in forbidden actions, leading to increased interest and curiosity. For example, a ban on a movie can generate more interest than if the movie were widely available.

The Caligula effect was in full swing when the school banned that controversial book, making everyone want to read it even more.

by Emotional Cruiser September 21, 2025

the basketball diary effect

When something is recommended to you repeatedly, so much so that it puts you off said thing forever.

Man, I never ended up watching that movie due to the basketball diary effect - it was recommended to me so many times, I just started rewatching Party of Five.

by martypartyparty April 26, 2021

Zeigarnik effect

In psychology, the Zeigarnik effect (named after Lithuanian-Soviet psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik) postulates that people remember unfinished or interrupted tasks better than completed tasks. In Gestalt psychology, the Zeigarnik effect has been used to demonstrate the general presence of Gestalt phenomena: not just appearing as perceptual effects, but also present in cognition.

The Zeigarnik effect should not be confused with the Ovsiankina effect, an urge to complete tasks previously initiated. Maria Ovsiankina, a colleague of Zeigarnik, investigated the effect of task interruption on the tendency to resume the task at the next opportunity.

I can't stop thinking about that unfinished novel; it's like the Zeigarnik effect is haunting me, making it impossible to focus on anything else until I get back to it.

by Emotional Cruiser November 4, 2025

The daylight effect

When working third shift, while it's dark outside you are tired and fatigued either due to lack of sleep, or exhaustion but when morning light appears (daylight) You are suddenly full of energy and awake like you haven't worked 12 hours shift

Me: "dude, I'm so eepy but I can't eep because of the stupid daylight effect
Them: What's the daylight effect?

Me: oh it's where I can't sleep because my brain thinks that the sun being out means my day is just starting when it's supposed to be ending

by El-dawg February 27, 2025

The Hbox Effect

When you do really well at something in practice (like beating top players in Super Smash Bros. Melee), but fail to do it when it matters the most (like when you finally fight that top player in bracket)

Meleegamer123: "I beat Hungrybox on slippi! I'm so good at melee"
Meleegamer456: "No you aren't dude, that's just The Hbox Effect"

by Existance494 February 19, 2024

The T1 effect

The effect of Malding in regards to playing league of legends. The T1 effect is the ability to mald yourself, your teammates, your enemies, your fanboys, your haters and literally anyone playing with you or near you while playing a game of league of legends.

The T1 effect will cause you to win a lost game and lose a won game by furious typing alone. Whether you win or lose is determined by your ability to mald others without malding yourself, how much blood rush you’ve had in a day, and how many times you scream “fuck this game.”

Kenny sure had the T1 effect that game, I have no idea how he managed to go 0-11 and not stroke out.

by BoxOfFrogs March 26, 2021

Bouteflika Effect

When an Algerian president is clearly too sick to show up in public, but every talking head on TV suddenly becomes a medical expert insisting he’s the picture of health and leadership. Basically, a synchronized national boot-licking exercise to keep their cushy jobs.

"Hey, where’s Tebboune? Didn’t he vanish after that El-Harrach mess? Heard he’s chilling in a German hospital."

"Classic Bouteflika Effect—nothing says ‘fit to rule’ like vanishing during a national disaster, gotta love it!"

by Lynda_Joy August 29, 2025