Patti used to look forward to going out for dinner, because it was a rare treat when she was younger and couldn't afford to go out much. She would look forward to it for days, and it made her very happy. Now that she goes out for dinner regularly for work, she doesn't really think about it as a particularly important event and it doesn't have much effect on her happiness levels. Which of the following is illustrated by this example?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This example illustrates the hedonic treadmill, which suggests that our level of happiness remains relatively stable despite changes in our circumstances. Patti's increased access to going out for dinner regularly for work did not necessarily increase her overall level of happiness, as she became accustomed to it and it no longer had the same novelty and excitement as when it was a rare treat.

Patti Used to Look Forward to Going Out for Dinner