Hedonic Treadmill Theory

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” (Keonig F, 1985). The main focus of psychological science on what is psychologically wrong with people has lead to also looking at what is right with people. The search into what makes people happy is vast and varies across research studies and theories. However, one of the most deflating concepts facing positive psychology is the hedonic treadmill. Positive and negative events temporarily alter levels of happiness and people quickly adapt to them and return to a fixed emotional set-point (Brickman P, 1978). The hedonic treadmill, as classically stated, implies that all efforts to improve

For the ancient Greeks the word love has a variation of words to describe the various emotions that we label "love". These variations include: Philia (φιλία) which they saw as a deep but usually non-sexual intimacy between close friends and family members or as a deep bond forged by soldiers as they fought alongside each other in battle (Liddell, & Scott. 2010). Pragma (Πράγμα) is the mature love that develops over a long period of time between long-term couples and involves actively practising goodwill, commitment, compromise and understanding (Liddell, & Scott. 2010). Agape (ἀγάπη) is a more generalised love, it's about love for all of humanity. Philautia (Φιλαυτία) is self love (Liddell, & Scott. 2010). Storge (στοργή) means love, affection especially of parents to children or for pets (Strong, Yarber, Sayad, Devault, 2008). This word is rarely used in ancient works, almost exclusively used as a descriptor of relationships within the family. It is also known to express mere acceptance or putting up with situations, as in "loving" the tyrant. As Aristotle discovered, in order to care for others you need to be able to care about yourself (Broadie, & Rowe, 2002). Last, and probably not least, eros (ἔρως) is a sexual passion and desire. For Aristotle, eros will burn itself out unless it morphs into philia and/or pragma. Love is all of the above. However, it possibly unrealistic to experience all six types with only one person. This is why family and community are important in order to bring out these emotions of