What is a hedonic treadmill?
Although the basic concept of hedonic treadmill first appeared in an earlier study, a British research psychologist named Michael Eysenck is generally attributed to the definition and popularization of the phenomenon of the "hedonic treadmill". The hedonic treadmill is not a piece of exercise equipment, but rather an analogy to the belief that increasing material wealth does not necessarily mean an increase in the level of happiness of a person. In other words, money doesn't buy happiness. A person who rides on a hedonic cross -country belt may experience a temporary increase or reduce the level of his personal happiness, but eventually returns to a predetermined and neutral level after adapting to the circumstances. For example, the lottery winner may feel more satisfied after repaying debts and buying luxury items, but eventually his desires and expectations become relatively average.
Many people find themselves on this theoretical treadmill once they find out how other people live their lives, especially those who have greater wealth or well -beingyt. A basement person could easily adapt to his financial situation and, for example, feel relatively satisfied. That would be the equivalent of running on the spot on the hedonic belt. The financial crisis could return a few steps, but most likely would return to its original level of personal happiness. However, a sudden increase in wealth or state could temporarily force runners to work harder to maintain the accelerated pace of the treadmill. This is a phase in which people buy more material and upgrade their existing conditions.
Theeconomy of most countries partly depends on this hedonic phenomenon of the treadmill. Many people have a congenital desire to constantly improve their lives, and this often forces them to spend more money on material goods. At some point, however, their level of expectation and obligation equals their sense of personal happiness.
Since then, most consumers will continue to buy goods and services that help them maintain theirthe current level of happiness. For example, once a person is traded in a compact car for a luxury sports car, the idea of upgrading to an even more expensive vehicle is less and less attractive. The desire to continue the upgrade can remain, but the consumer has reached the point of balance to its hedonic treadmill.
Running on a hedonic treadmill should not be confused with selfish excesses of pure hedonism. A poorer person with significant financial debts can feel as satisfied with his life as a rich man who has become tired of consumerism. Studies show that lottery winners and others who have come into sudden wealth are only a temporary increase in the level of personal happiness. One day, they satisfied their basic list of desires and became a financially solvent, many lottery winners report the feelings of disappointment that their wealth did not feel their lives differently.
It seems that the phenomenon of a hedonic treadmill lends a credible expression "money can not buy happiness". For most lId is trying to happiness as satisfactory as it really is.