Imagine life on a treadmill, marching along in constant motion, but not actually arriving anywhere. That is the theory of the hedonic treadmill. Regardless of positive or negative life changes, such as having a child, becoming a paraplegic or winning the lottery, the hedonic treadmill is a constant state of desire and an insatiable quest for the ultimate fulfillment.
History
The term hedonic treadmill originally appeared in an essay written by Philip Brickman and Donald T. Campbell entitled, "Hedonic Relativism and Planning the Good Society." Brickman and Campbell conducted their research by asking each person in the study to subjectively rate their happiness on a scale of 0 to 100, 1 being unrelenting torture and 100 being pleasant comfort. First published in 1971, this paper has been referenced and cited by numerous psychology experts ever since in an attempt to understand how individuals and societies achieve long-term happiness.
Effects
People work hard to acquire a certain life status, to accumulate wealth and to conquer challenges. However, according to the hedonic treadmill, once people actually attain that which they perceive will bring them a feeling of bliss, they are either sorely unfulfilled or only satisfied for a very short period of time. According to Brickman and Campbell, the reason for this quandary is that people will constantly adapt to their present life condition. As a result, their required reward level will continually advance over time relative to their latest accomplishments.
Theories/Speculation
Several people have further speculated on the application of the hedonic treadmill and incorporated it into their own studies. In his best-selling book, "The Pursuit of Happiness," David Myers wrote, "The point cannot be overstated: Every desirable experience --- passionate love, a spiritual high, the pleasure of a new possession, the exhilaration of success --- is transitory."
Yale emeritus professor Robert E. Lane took this theory to mean that money cannot buy happiness. Furthermore, he suggests that there is no correlation between income level and happiness in the work place. No matter how much you make, you will always want more, he predicts.
Daniel Kahneman, a Princeton psychology professor and Nobel prize winner in economics, uses the hedonic treadmill theory to demonstrate why life satisfaction does not follow improved living conditions. Instead, he suggests that happiness is a skill that requires practice.
Criticism
According to Ed Diener, Richard E Lucas and Christie Napa Scollon, the hedonic treadmill theory requires five important updates. In an article they authored for "American Psychologist," they use current research to demonstrate why the theory is outdated. First, they claim that people will return to a positive set point vs. a neutral status quo. They also show that set points vary from person to person, that people will rate each area of their life differently depending on their current focus, and that people may adapt to situations at different rates. Lastly, they explain that one must follow the same individuals over time to accurately determine if adaptation has actually occurred.
Expert Advice
Dan Ariely, behavioral finance expert and author of "The Upside of Irrationality," suggests that you apply the hedonic treadmill theory to your life by investing in long-term memories rather than material possessions to which you'll eventually acclimate. As he explains, "If you're deciding between a sofa and a vacation, go for the vacation. You'll quickly get used to the sofa, but the vacation will bring long-lasting memories."
References
- "Adaptation-Level Theory: A Symposium"; Hedonic relativism and Planning the Good Society; Philip Brickman and Donald T. Campbell; 1971
- "Money" magazine; Spend Smarter, Be Happier; David Futrelle; June 2010
- "American Psychologist"; Beyond the Hedonic Treadmill: Revising the Adaptation Theory of Well-Being; Ed Diener; May/June 2006
- "ABC National Radio"; All in the Mind: Interview with Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman; Natasha Mithcell; August 2003
