Have you ever noticed how you can become accustomed to a new situation relatively quickly? Perhaps you start a new job or move to a new city, and the initial excitement or discomfort fades away as you settle into your new environment. This phenomenon is known as the adaptation level phenomenon, and it has significant implications for our psychology and behavior.
What is the Adaptation Level Phenomenon?
The adaptation level phenomenon refers to the tendency for individuals to base their judgments and expectations on their existing perception and experiences. Put simply, it’s the tendency to get used to new situations and adjust our expectations accordingly. This concept was first introduced by psychologist Helson in the 1940s, who suggested that people constantly adapt to their surroundings and change their expectations accordingly, so that the new level of experience is the norm.
As an illustration, imagine you get a promotion at work, and your salary doubles overnight. For a while, you may feel elated and potentially use the additional funds to make new purchases or go on an extravagant trip. However, given time, you will become accustom to the new salary and new lifestyle, and it will no longer feel novel. Essentially, your expectations and perception of “normal” have shifted.
How Does the Adaptation Level Phenomenon Affect Us?
The adaptation level phenomenon affects us in a variety of ways and can help explain behaviors and psychological phenomena. These include:
Happiness and Satisfaction
The adaptation level phenomenon can have a significant impact on our happiness and satisfaction levels. For example, if you consistently experience a high level of stress at work, but grow accustomed to it over time, you may not even realize how stressed you are until a holiday or vacation period rolls around. Similarly, if you have a comfortable and enjoyable life, your expectations about what will make you happy will shift accordingly.
Economic Behaviors
The adaptation level phenomenon can also explain economic behaviors such as the economic theory of "hedonic adaptation," which holds that a person’s level of happiness is largely determined by their baseline level of prosperity and economic stability. As a result, if someone’s income rises, but their baseline level of happiness remains stable, they may be motivated to continue to accumulate wealth in order to experience the same level of satisfaction as they did before experiencing economic success.
Risk Perception
The adaptation level phenomenon can also affect our perception of risk. For instance, research shows that people who live in areas with a high level of risk such as earthquakes or hurricanes often adjust to the risk level and may discount the likelihood of a disaster. Similarly, people who engage in risky activities like skydiving or extreme sports may prioritize the thrill factor, while underestimating the dangers.
Conclusion
The adaptation level phenomenon is influential in shaping our perceptions, behaviors, and expectations. We have seen from this article that the concept affects our happiness and satisfaction levels, economic behaviors, and risk perception. Recognizing the adaptation level phenomenon could help us avoid some of the negative influences of negative adaptation by making conscious efforts to maintain our sense of novelty and excitement in the face of change.
Now that you understand the adaptation level phenomenon let us know your thoughts on this in the comment section below.