Adams' Paradox

Adams' Paradox highlights a tension in understanding societal well-being: improvements in material wealth and living standards do not always correlate with increased happiness or life satisfaction. In many cases, as health, income, and economic conditions improve, people's reported happiness levels plateau or even decline. This suggests that beyond a certain point, additional material gains contribute less to overall well-being, emphasizing that non-material factors—such as relationships, purpose, and community—are vital to human satisfaction. The paradox encourages us to look beyond economic growth as the sole measure of societal progress, recognizing the complex nature of happiness.