Cited by 1,946Psychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionOptimism, Hope, and Well-beingAging and Gerontology Research

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Beyond the hedonic treadmill: Revising the adaptation theory of well-being.

Diener, Ed, Lucas, Richard E., Scollon, Christie Napa·2006·American Psychologist

DOI 10.1037/0003-066x.61.4.305

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Abstract

According to the hedonic treadmill model, good and bad events temporarily affect happiness, but people quickly adapt back to hedonic neutrality. The theory, which has gained widespread acceptance in recent years, implies that individual and societal efforts to increase happiness are doomed to failure. The recent empirical work outlined here indicates that 5 important revisions to the treadmill model are needed. First, individuals' set points are not hedonically neutral. Second, people have different set points, which are partly dependent on their temperaments. Third, a single person may have multiple happiness set points: Different components of well-being such as pleasant emotions, unpleasant emotions, and life satisfaction can move in different directions. Fourth, and perhaps most important, well-being set points can change under some conditions. Finally, individuals differ in their adaptation to events, with some individuals changing their set point and others not changing in reaction to some external event. These revisions offer hope for psychologists and policy-makers who aim to decrease human misery and increase happiness.

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“Subjective wellbeing has been conceptualised as part of a hedonic approach (Diener, lucas, and Scollon 2009), and captures measurable experiences of happiness, namely the absence of negative mood, the presence of positive mood and general satisfaction with life (Ryan and Deci 2001).”
Background
Adaptability and psychological flexibility: Overlapping constructs?
Waldeck, D., Pancani, L., Holliman, A. J., Karekla, M., & Tyndall, I. T. (2021) · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science · doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.01.002 · Cited by 64
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“However, empirical evidence suggests there are large individual differences in the extent, direction, and rate of adaptation after the same sort of life event (Diener et al., 2006); therefore, differences in individual changes are of interest (Kammeyer-Mueller,”
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“In various applications, SOEP data form the basis for estimating and matching lifecycle models (Diener et al., 2006).”
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“Some of these theories have now been revised (e.g., Diener, Lucas, & Scollon, 2006; Easterlin, 2003; Headey, 2008), recognizing that active processes (e.g., coping strategies) may also play a role in explaining hedonic adaptation, and that life events may trigger long-term changes in well-being.”
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“Third, the results point to the stability of well-being over time that is partly driven by personality traits (Diener et al., 2006).”
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Swiss Primary Teachers’ Professional Well-Being During School Closure Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Utilizing Neutral Affective States in Research: Theory, Assessment, and Recommendations
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“However, this assumption has increasingly been challenged, with several researchers advocating for revisions to the model (e.g., Diener et al. 2006; Easterlin 2003; Headey 2008).”
BackgroundInfluential
What is the value of orthodontic treatment?
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“Research suggests that those with depression and anxiety disorders tend to pick ineffective health maintenance strategies, whereas happier individuals have tendencies to reach out for social support and healthy biopsychosocial strategies and are more willing to use positive appraisal techniques about life stressors (D…”
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“I assume that people aspire to a certain set-point of subjective well-being (Diener et al., 2006), and, although the consequences of deviating in each direction may be asymmetric (i.e., people can generally tolerate positive deviations better than negative ones), there are levels at which too much…”
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Subjective Emotional Well-Being, Emotional Intelligence, and Mood of Gifted vs. Unidentified Students: A Relationship Model
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“According to Diener, Lucas, and Scollon [72], a possible explanation may be that the “features of one’s life that cannot be explained continue to draw attention and, thereby, affect one’s emotions and overall well-being” (p.”
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Terminal decline in well-being: The role of social orientation.
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“x Erikson, E. H. (1985). The life cycle completed: A review.”
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“Further, individuals who are able to weather the fluctuations of the work environment are apt to be more resilient to occupational stressors (Diener et al., 2006).”
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Work-family conflict, perceived control, and health, family, and wealth: A 20-year study
Li, A., Shaffer, J. A., Wang, Z., & Huang, J. L. W. (2021) · Journal of Vocational Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2021.103562 · Cited by 55
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“They mentioned that an explanation of their different finding could be what psychologists call a “hedonic treadmill” [21].”
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Four-year stability, change, and multidirectionality of well-being in very-old age.
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“Mobility disabilities can hinder shoppers’ efforts to obtain the benefits of traditional out-of-home store shopping [31], leading to lower hedonic experience value and wellbeing [19].”
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Authors: Diener, E., Lucas, R. E., & Scollon, C. N.
Affiliations: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
Michigan State University (US)
Singapore Management University (SG)
ORCID: Diener, Ed
Lucas, Richard E.
Scollon, Christie Napa
Venue: American Psychologist
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2006-05
Volume: 61
Issue: 4
Pages: 305-314
ISSN: 0003-066X (ISSN-L)
1935-990X
DOI: 10.1037/0003-066x.61.4.305
OpenAlex: W2052283723
Cited by: 1,946
References: 71
Citations by year: 2026: 82 · 2025: 98 · 2024: 99 · 2023: 129 · 2022: 123 · 2021: 99 · 2020: 155 · 2019: 85 · 2018: 95 · 2017: 96 · 2016: 89 · 2015: 126 · 2014: 107 · 2013: 102 · 2012: 124
FWCI: 75.31
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: American Psychologist (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Singapore Management University Institutional Knowledge (InK) (Singapore Management University) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Keywords: hedonic treadmill, adaptation theory, well-being, life satisfaction, emotions, temperament, individual differences, happiness policy, subjective well-being
MeSH terms: Adaptation, Psychological, Happiness, Humans, Psychological Theory, Quality of Life

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Beyond the hedonic treadmill: Revising the adaptation theory of well-being.

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