![]() The word hedonic refers to seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. Ultimately, hedonic adaptation allows us to adjust to changes in our lives, both positive and negative, while still maintaining a sense of continual equilibrium. On the other hand, someone who experiences a tragic loss in their life may initially feel a deep sense of anguish, but eventually their emotional state will return back to their original, pre-loss levels. For example, a person may initially experience a great deal of joy and excitement when they first purchase something they’ve wanted for a long time, yet that excitement gradually tapers off over time and eventually fades away as the person becomes accustomed to the new item. Hedonic adaptation can occur in both positive and negative circumstances and functions to help us maintain an overall balance in our lives. It is the idea that people’s emotional responses tend to adapt and eventually return to their original point, even after major events such as tragedies, disasters or successes. Hedonic adaptation is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when individuals get used to a certain level of pleasure or happiness, which leads to the decreases in those positive feelings over time. What is hedonic adaptation in simple terms? ![]() The hedonic treadmill is an important concept to remember in the pursuit of happiness, as it can combat against the notion that large changes in life such as winning the lottery or getting married will lead to a state of perpetual euphoria. Despite their drastic life changes, people tend to quickly undergo a process of re-adaptation, setting them back to their natural level of equilibrium. It can be observed most prominently in people who experience large financial or status gains, or emotional losses such as death, divorce or illness. This adaptation is thought to help humans cope with stressors and to maintain emotional equilibrium. It is based on the idea that humans have a “baseline” level of happiness, which can be influenced and altered by external factors, but will quickly return to normal following emotional events. The hedonic treadmill, also known as the hedonic adaptation, is a term that describes the phenomenon of humans’ ability to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness, despite major positive or negative life events. In essence, the hedonic treadmill acknowledges the idea that happiness is something that needs to be worked on and maintained, rather than something that is sought after and achieved through material possessions.īy understanding this concept, people can work to find lasting happiness and satisfaction by deepening their connection to the people around them and focusing on meaningful activities. If a person upgrades to a better car, the pattern may repeat. After the initial exhilaration and joy of buying the car, the happiness level eventually dwindles back to the normal point and the car becomes just a regular occurrence. This phenomenon is similar to the way that running on a treadmill gives the illusion of progress without actually going anywhere.Īn example of hedonic adaptation that many people experience is the effect of buying a new car. As a result, people tend to return to a relatively stable level of happiness or psychological well-being rather than continuing to feel increasingly good or worse because of positive or negative changes. The hedonic treadmill, or hedonic adaptation, is a term used to describe the way that humans quickly become accustomed to and habituated to changes in their environment, both positive and negative. How would you explain the term hedonic treadmill ‘? Similarly, if we experience setbacks, such as the death of a loved one or job loss, we eventually make an adjustment and return to our pre-set level of contentment. Therefore, if we experience a significant positive event or purchase a desirable item, we quickly begin to take it for granted and become used to the new higher happiness level. ![]() When a major event causes us to exceed that range, our emotions settle back into the pre-event state. The hedonic treadmill is based on the idea that there is a finite range on the happiness spectrum within which we tend to hover. In essence, people are very resilient and adapt to both positive and negative life changes. ![]()
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