The Hedonic Treadmill Model

The Hedonic Treadmill Model explains how people tend to return to a baseline level of happiness despite positive or negative life changes. When someone experiences excitement from a new achievement or possession, their happiness temporarily increases, but over time, they adapt, and their happiness levels stabilize. Similarly, setbacks or hardships may cause short-term dips, but people usually adapt and their happiness bends back to their usual level. Essentially, it's like walking on a treadmill—no matter how fast you go, you stay in the same place—highlighting the tendency of happiness to level out over time despite life’s ups and downs.