Psychology Today | 01.09.2026 22:48
We often believe that if we gain more wealth, more achievements, or more stuff, our sense of happiness and well-being will increase. However, with each new gain, our baseline is reset, and our happiness levels readjust. This is referred to as hedonic adaptation: Our perception of improved circumstances quickly fades as we become accustomed to them and raise our expectations even higher (Diener et al., 2006). Individuals become increasingly numb to their current circumstances and look for the next thing, believing it will actually satisfy them. Yet, contentment remains elusive.
