The Hedonic Adaptation: How To Increase Happiness?

Let us begin by defining what hedonic adaptation is. Hedonic adaptation is explained simply as a phenomenon that describes our happiness being in a constant state, despite external components affecting our lives and objectives (Brickman, & Campbelll, 1971). It implies that even if something makes us feel happy or sad, occasionally we will return to a starting position, which is the constant state of our feeling (Baumgardner, & Crothers, 2013). This essay will also detail how we try to enhance our happiness and what can be done to increase happiness progressively, without letting attempts to increase it from failing.
It was theorized that hedonic adaptation is a natural process that is involuntary and totally unavoidable (Brickman, & Campbell,
People spend a lot of on material possession and elate at the happiness they get from its acquisition. Hedonic adaptation explains that this euphoria from attaining materialistic purchases doesn’t last long and fades away to their happiness set point. As the fade away takes place, they tend to buy something new to seek the pleasure from buying things and eventually accumulate a lot of materials they don’t actually need and suffer from larger expenses and lesser financial freedom (Richard, 2010). A research was conducted to see if people concentrate more on experiential goals rather than material possessions in the chase to increase happiness, permanently. The research used surveys on various groups to see if focusing on acquiring a positive life experience contributed to elevating happiness set points. It was deduced that life events helped make people contented as “they were more open to positive reinterpretations and are a more meaningful part of one’s identity, which contributed more to successful social relationships” (Boven, & Gilovich, 2003). This reinstated that individuals could indeed live happier lives permanently, if they focused on devoting their time in attaining experiences and building positive relationships compared against acquiring material possessions (Boven, & Gilovich,