In this article, we also suggest which of the following best describes the hedonic treadmill; the hedonic treadmill, also known as hedonic adaptation, is the observed tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes.
Some key Points about the Hedonic Treadmill Theory
It is a theory that proposes that we have a baseline or “set point” of happiness that we tend to return to after the emotional effects of any highly positive or negative event wear off.
This adaptation happens quickly, with the emotional effects of many major societal life events diminishing over time. People generally return to their set point within months or a few years after events like marriage, divorce, winning the lottery, becoming disabled, etc.
This adaptation occurs because we get used to new circumstances or feel the change in the environment. For example, a pay raise at work leads to joy and happiness, but then we adjust our expectations and spending to match the new income.
The treadmill implies that we need to keep experiencing new things to increase our happiness with our work. This can lead to constantly pursuing new achievements, possessions, experiences, relationships, etc. However, you can maintain your current happiness levels in any situation.
It challenges the idea that achieving significant goals or life circumstances will permanently increase happiness with your work.
In summary, the hedonic treadmill theory says we have an overall happiness set point we revert to despite significant societal changes due to many cases, like our tendency to adapt to new circumstances over time. It has essential implications for motivation, goal-setting, and overall satisfaction for your mental health.
The one that best describes the hedonic treadmill is:
We can define the hedonic treadmill theory as “The tendency of humans to quickly return to a baseline level of happiness despite major positive or negative events.”
The key points that make this the best option:
We tend to go back to that. It captures the concept of a “baseline” or set point of happiness.
It notes that this happens despite significant events, whether positive or negative, changing mental health.
It highlights the quick nature of how we adapt to our set point of mental health.
The other options do not cover as many core aspects of the hedonic treadmill theory:
“The pursuit of ever-greater accomplishments to reach satisfaction” – This describes more of a consequence of the treadmill rather than the underlying phenomenon itself.
“The idea that disabilities always lead to lasting unhappiness” – While potentially related, the treadmill is broader than just disabilities.
“The habit of making irrational decisions when happy” – This does not align with the basic premise of adaptation and baseline happiness.
So, in summary, the option of “The tendency of humans to quickly return to a baseline level of happiness despite major positive or negative events” is the one that best encapsulates the concept of the hedonic treadmill.
The hedonic treadmill refers to the tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes. Some examples of people who experience the hedonic treadmill include:
Lottery winners:
After the initial rush of winning the lottery wears off, it is not a good moment. Lottery winners often report not feeling any happier than they were before. When they are not getting, their happiness levels tend to return to their pre-lottery levels after a period of adaptation.
People who experience significant disabilities:
People who become disabled and find their lives boring often feel devastated at first but, over time, adapt and return to their previous happiness set point.
People who get married:
Marriage also changes a person’s life. While getting married often leads to an initial increase in happiness, over time, married people tend to revert to their baseline happiness level. The excitement of the marriage wears off, and then you are disappointed in your life.
People who get raises or improve their material possessions:
Mental health also affects your work, and while a raise or new possession may briefly boost happiness, the effect dissipates.
People who move to new places:
Accommodation and place change your environment and, therefore, your mental health. Moving to a new city may be exciting at first, but the novelty wears off. Happiness tends to revert to previous levels or old places.
In this article, we also suggest that mental health changes the various positions. The hedonic treadmill indicates a “set point” of happiness that we tend to return to after the emotional effects of any life change wear off. Our expectations and aspirations tend to ratchet up as we adapt to new circumstances, and we are disappointed in our lives.
Some potential benefits of the hedonic treadmill effect
Resilience:
The hedonic treadmill suggests that people in society can adapt to positive and negative life changes. This ability to bounce back provides psychological resilience.
Taking things in stride:
By adapting to events and returning to a baseline happiness level change mind, people avoid getting stuck in extended emotional highs or lows. This can help provide more emotional stability.
Appreciating small pleasures:
Big positive life events may provide only short-term happiness boosts, not the long term. However, this can help people learn to find pleasure in small moments and enjoy every moment of life.
Motivation:
Motivation changes your mind. Dissatisfaction with the status quo and a desire for the next level of happiness can motivate people to keep striving, achieving, and progressing.
Avoiding hedonic decline:
Without the treadmill, you lead to a decline in happiness when positive events might lose their potency over time. The treadmill resets a person’s expectations.
Moderation:
The treadmill effect promotes taking a moderate approach to highs and lows levels in your life. People don’t become permanently euphoric or despondent.
Perspective:
When life is negative, adaptation provides the perspective that even the worst circumstances can improve and that no positive experience yields permanent bliss.
Promotes gratitude:
Appreciating that positive experiences and joyous moments are fleeting can promote tremendous gratitude. Ultimately, the hedonic treadmill can act as a moderating force, helping people maintain equilibrium and motivation while navigating life’s fluid circumstances. A degree of adaptation is likely healthy and functional for your mental health.
Few main variations of the hedonic treadmill model that have been proposed
Basic Model:
This original formulation proposes a relatively stable happiness set point in life. Life events may temporarily move us off this point, but they act as attractors, pulling us back into the human mind.
Satiation-Assimilation Model:
This version states that we experience happiness gains from a new event. Then, hedonic adaptation occurs through satiation (getting used to it) and assimilation (internalizing it as a new status quo).
Aspiration Treadmill:
It focuses on how aspirations and expectations adjust along with life improvements, and you feel better, keeping happiness stable. We aim higher as life improves and changes.
Opponent Process Theory:
It describes the person’s positive and negative emotions. This theory occurs in a counterbalancing relationship. Happiness from an event triggers an eventual opposing distress response.
Comparison Treadmill:
This emphasizes how we compare our situation to personal standards and others or compare socially. These social and individual comparisons are on a treadmill that strongly influences happiness and changes life.
Progress Treadmill:
It proposes that goals and personal progress, more than static status, influence happiness with the goal. Hedonic adaptation aligns with progress toward goals and feeling joy. Lack of progress hastens adaptation.
In summary, there are different ways to model the processes of hedonic treadmill adaptation and how internal and external factors interact to sustain or alter happiness levels over time as circumstances change and also to change mental health.
READ MORE