Hedonic treadmill

The hedonic treadmill, or hedonic adaptation, is a psychological concept first theorized in 1971 by two American social psychologists, though its underlying ideas can be traced back to earlier philosophical writings, including those of Saint Augustine.

The theory posits that individuals rapidly adapt to changes in their life circumstances—whether positive or negative—and eventually return to a relatively stable level of happiness.

This concept is particularly relevant when analyzing the impact of wealth: for example, when people experience an improvement in their circumstances, such as receiving a promotion, acquiring a new car, or moving into a luxurious home, the initial surge of joy tends to fade over time as they acclimate to the new normal. Conversely, even after adverse events, individuals typically recover and revert to their baseline level of contentment. This constant cycle of adaptation implies that external achievements or material gains, although temporarily uplifting, rarely result in lasting increases in overall well-being. Consequently, people may find themselves in a continuous pursuit of new sources of happiness, only to discover that the fleeting pleasure they experience soon diminishes, perpetuating the treadmill effect.