Psychology of the Hedonic Treadmill The Role of Adaptation They acknowledged that some people experience significant changes in their hedonic set point over time, while the majority do not, and argue that the happiness set point can be relatively stable throughout an individual’s life, whereas the life satisfaction and subjective well-being set points are more variable. People showed individual differences in how they responded to significant life events such as marriage, divorce, and widowhood in a longitudinal study conducted by Mancini, Bonnano, and Clark. This reorientation serves to guard against complacency while also accepting unchangeable circumstances and redirecting efforts toward more effective goals. Sensitization or desensitization to circumstances or environment can redirect motivation in the case of hedonics. Hedonic adaptation works similarly to most adaptations that protect and improve perception. began to approach hedonic pleasure within the framework of Harry Helson’s adaptation level theory, which holds that perception of stimulation is dependent on comparison of previous stimulations. The term Hedonic treadmill was coined by Brickman and Campbell in their 1971 article “Hedonic Relativism and Planning the Good Society” to describe people’s tendency to maintain a relatively stable baseline of happiness despite external events and fluctuations in demographic circumstances. Understanding this idea can help us better navigate life’s ups and downs and appreciate the small moments of joy and contentment that make up our daily lives. It suggests that we may be more resilient than we think and that even major life events may not have as much of an impact on our long-term happiness as we might expect. The concept of a hedonic treadmill has important implications for our overall well-being and happiness. The happiness that was initially associated with the new car fades away, and the person returns to their baseline level of happiness. However, over time, the novelty wears off and the car becomes just another part of daily life. At first, the new car may bring a great deal of happiness and excitement. However, over time, they may adapt to their new circumstances and return to their previous level of happiness.Īnother example of hedonic adaptation is the experience of buying a new car. Similarly, someone who experiences a significant loss, such as the death of a loved one, may initially feel intense sadness and grief. However, over time, they may become accustomed to their newfound wealth and return to their previous level of happiness. At first, they may experience a surge of happiness and excitement.

Factors that Affect the Hedonic Treadmillįor example, imagine someone who wins the lottery.