Adaptation and the Set-Point Model of Subjective Well-Being

@article{Lucas2007AdaptationAT,
  title={Adaptation and the Set-Point Model of Subjective Well-Being},
  author={Richard E. Lucas},
  journal={Current Directions in Psychological Science},
  year={2007},
  volume={16},
  pages={75 - 79}
}
  • R. E. Lucas
  • Published 1 April 2007
  • Psychology
  • Current Directions in Psychological Science
Hedonic adaptation refers to the process by which individuals return to baseline levels of happiness following a change in life circumstances. Dominant models of subjective well-being (SWB) suggest that people can adapt to almost any life event and that happiness levels fluctuate around a biologically determined set point that rarely changes. Recent evidence from large-scale panel studies challenges aspects of this conclusion. Although inborn factors certainly matter and some adaptation does… 
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