The hedonic treadmill is the idea that an individual's level of happiness , after rising or falling in response to positive or negative life events, ultimately tends to move back toward where it was prior to these experiences.
How the Hedonic Treadmill Works
Starting a new romance or being promoted at work may cause a brief burst of extra joy, but these events will not necessarily change people’s everyday levels of happiness in the long run. Instead, people often adjust their expectations to the new status quo and find themselves desiring even more to maintain the same level of happiness.
Similarly, even very negative events will typically not keep a person depressed forever; eventually, one's mood will likely shift back in the direction of the happiness baseline. The hedonic treadmill can be a double-edged sword, offering protection from the impact of harmful environments while constraining potential gains in happiness over the long term.
After moving to a new house or apartment, one may revel in the extra room, the higher ceilings, the improved view to the outside, or other features—only to stop appreciating these things as much as the months wear on. The same could be said for the mood boost we might receive from other new possessions or highly anticipated experiences. People can also adapt to painful experiences such as unemployment or the loss of a loved one, such that eventually, their level of happiness returns back to where it started, or at least closer to the baseline than immediately after the event.
As with other happiness-boosters, people who begin romantic relationships tend to eventually get used to—and perhaps begin to take for granted—much that is positive about being with a partner. Initially novel and exciting attributes, or shared experiences, may become less-appreciated over time. And among married couples, an increase in happiness during the “honeymoon period” is likely to revert back to the baseline. Efforts to recharge the relationship , such as seeking to incorporate variety into shared experiences, might help to counteract this process of habituation.
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