Desensitization decreases sensitivity in general, which reduces sensitivity to change. But he will still be pleased when he gets a holiday bonus.
For example, if Sam gets a raise he will initially be happier, and then habituate to the larger salary and return to his happiness set point. Shifting adaptation levels occurs when a person experiences a shift in what is perceived as a "neutral" stimulus, but maintains sensitivity to stimulus differences.
Frederick and Lowenstein classify three types of processes in hedonic adaptation: shifting adaptation levels, desensitization, and sensitization. This reorientation functions to protect against complacency, but also to accept unchangeable circumstances, and redirect efforts towards more effective goals. In the case of hedonics, the sensitization or desensitization to circumstances or environment can redirect motivation. The hedonic treadmill functions similarly to most adaptations that serve to protect and enhance perception. The idea of relative happiness had been around for decades when in 1978 Brickman, et al., began to approach hedonic pleasure within the framework of Helson's adaptation level theory, which holds that perception of stimulation is dependent upon comparison of former stimulations. "Hedonic treadmill" is a term coined by Brickman and Campbell in their article, "Hedonic Relativism and Planning the Good Society" (1971), describing the tendency of people to keep a fairly stable baseline level of happiness despite external events and fluctuations in demographic circumstances. Major theoretical approaches Behavioral/psychological approach The process of adaptation can also occur through the tendency of humans to construct elaborate rationales for considering themselves deprived through a process social theorist Gregg Easterbrook calls "abundance denial". Further, neurochemical processes desensitize overstimulated hedonic pathways in the brain, which possibly prevents persistently high levels of intense positive or negative feelings. Generally, the process involves cognitive changes, such as shifting values, goals, attention and interpretation of a situation. Hedonic adaptation can occur in a variety of ways. The process of hedonic adaptation is often conceptualized as a treadmill, since no matter how hard one tries to gain an increase in happiness, one will remain in the same place. Generally, hedonic adaptation involves a happiness "set point", whereby humans generally maintain a constant level of happiness throughout their lives, despite events that occur in their environment.
Hedonic adaptation is a process or mechanism that reduces the affective impact of emotional events.
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