What is hedonic adaptation?

Hedonic adaptation, also known as the "hedonic treadmill," is the psychological phenomenon where individuals quickly return to a stable level of happiness following positive or negative life changes. This means that after experiencing a boost in happiness from a positive event, such as a new job or a relationship, people tend to revert to their baseline level of happiness over time. Similarly, negative experiences also lose their emotional impact as individuals adapt to them. This concept highlights the challenges of sustaining long-term happiness through external circumstances.