Matt is generally an unhappy person with a pessimistic outlook on life. After a few years of trying and getting rejected, he finally gets accepted into medical school. For a few months, he is extremely happy. However, he soon returns to his previous, unhappy state. This scenario illustrates the ____.
A)hedonic treadmill
B)catharsis theory
C)risk-as-feelings hypothesis
D)broaden-and-build theory

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The hedonic treadmill theory suggests that people tend to return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes. Matt's return to his previous unhappy state after the initial happiness of getting into medical school exemplifies this concept.

Matt Is Generally an Unhappy Person with a Pessimistic Outlook