Couples should be constantly aware that they need to make things work on a day-to-day basis.īased from the discussion above, the theory of hedonic adaptation prevention provides a model for sustaining and enriching a lasting relationship. This suggests that happiness in a relationship is a daily choice. In romantic relationships, this means that instead of focusing too much on long-term goals such as marriage or financial stability, coupes should just simply enjoy the moment. Ferguson revealed that happiness emerges from enjoying the moment rather than focusing on end goals, as well as from making positive choices.

In addition, couples should find a way to maximize the positive impacts of their relationship instead of dwelling on shortcomings.Īnother two-part study by Sheldon and Yuna L. Expectations always lead to disappointments. In other words, individuals should keep away from being too demanding or overbearing. The aforementioned study from Sheldon and Lyubomirsky also suggested that rising aspirations often result in lower well-being.

After all, too much of something can be bad. A healthy distance can actually keep intimacy between couples because it creates or sustains the right level of longing or desire. In a romantic relationship, this essentially means giving each other space in order for the involved individuals not only to maintain a sense of independence but also to create a healthy and non-intrusive distance. Dunn that involved determining the satisfaction level from chocolate consumption, they found out that individuals who initially abstained from the sweet treat demonstrated higher level of satisfaction upon consumption than those individuals who did not abstain. In a study by Jordi Quoidbach and Elizabeth W. To be specific, relevant studies have provided models for staying in love and sustaining or enriching a lasting relationship. There is a workaround against hedonic adaptation. The science of sustaining and enriching a lasting relationship This how emotional abuse and infidelity transpires. In a relationship, this individual could become too demanding and controlling or he could look for a new person in his or her life who could bring forth a renewed sense of euphoria from romance and intimacy. This is when he or she begins to desire for novel stimuli. On the other hand, the second route involves a top-down process in which an individual increases aspirations for achieving positive life change to sustain or improve positive emotions. Feelings and attachment fade and the relationship collapses. Over time, this individual thinks that there is nothing special about the relationship and he or she starts taking his or her partner for granted. This is when an individual becomes too accustomed to the positive stimuli coming from the relationship. The first route involves the bottom-up process in which positive emotions from a relationship naturally declines over time. Sheldon and Sonja Lyubomirsky identified two routes by which positive feelings from the relationship are eroded over time. Some couples end up being too comfortable with one another to the point that they neglect the importance of sustaining the relationship.Īnother related theory called the hedonic adaptation prevention model based on the study of Kennon M. However, the euphoria fades after some time because of complacency and too much familiarity to routines. Note that in the Boon-Holmes Three Developmental Stages of Romantic Relationships, the first stage called the Romantic Love Stage involves an outpouring of positive feelings and idealization of the partner. The first one to two years often brings forth profound happiness and excitement. To understand further the theory of hedonic adaptation, just imagine being in a new relationship.

This is also true for romantic affairs or relationships.

In other words, hedonic adaptation explains that people naturally get used to a particular stimuli that gave them positive feelings and emotions. Why and how routines and familiarity can end relationshipsĪn established theory from psychology called hedonic adaptation explains that people are naturally predisposed to gradually return to a relatively stable level of emotional state or well-being as they go through a process or mechanism that reduces the emotional impact from events, situations, or stimuli.

Hedonic adaption