Hedonic Treadmill
- “why doesn't getting what I wanted make me happier”
- “happiness always returns to normal”
- “does money buy happiness”
- “the treadmill of always wanting more”
01 · Side by side
Side by side
Comparison sheet
| Aspect | Hedonic treadmill | Flourishing |
|---|---|---|
| Concerns | Pleasure | Functioning and meaning |
| Adapts | Quickly | Slowly, if at all |
| Driven by | Circumstances | Engagement, purpose |
| Ceiling | Returns to baseline | Can genuinely shift |
02 · Which one you meant
Which one did you mean?
In shortReaders who land here meaning Hedonic Treadmill rather than Flourishing are usually searching for phrases like “why doesn't getting what I wanted make me happier”, “happiness always returns to normal”, “does money buy happiness”.
Flourishing
- “what does it mean to be truly well”
- “more than just not being depressed”
- “how do you measure wellbeing”
- “the opposite of languishing”
03 · Which came first
Which came first
In shortHedonic treadmill. 1971 — Philip Brickman and Donald Campbell argue people are confined to a 'hedonic treadmill', adapting even to extreme good and bad circumstances.
- 1971
Hedonic Treadmill. Philip Brickman and Donald Campbell argue people are confined to a 'hedonic treadmill', adapting even to extreme good and bad circumstances.
- 2002
Flourishing. Corey Keyes sets out a mental-health continuum running from languishing through moderate wellbeing to flourishing, defined by emotional, psychological and social wellbeing.
04 · Read either one