On the hedonic treadmill

At a time of global warming and a depletion of the earth's resources, it is only natural to ask why how and why we, the developed world, have contributed to this 'mess'. Our current modes of consumption are not only damaging the planet, they are also not making us any happier. Research is demonstrating that most citizens of the developed world are not more satisfied with life today than they were a few decades ago. During the last two generations, the rate of clinical depression in the United States has more than trippled (Lane 2000). The economist Richard Layard claims that the key factors in determining our satisfaction with life are the circumstances of our childhood, relationships and our outlook on life. Age, looks and intelligence make no difference on our level of happiness (Layard 2005). The key question remains: How is it possible that all the technological advancements and higher living standarts of the last decades have not brought further happiness? According to Oliver James, we are all infected with the 'Affluenza Virus' – we want things we don't need (James 2007). It is also argued that in our economy there is no such thing as 'enough', which leads to the assertion that our society is caught on a so-called 'hedonic treadmill' (Simms & Smith 2008). Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, explained the notion of the 'hedonic treadmill': The consumer society keeps „everyone in perpetual infancy because, if they ever became satisfied with their material lives, they would cease to place the game of expanding desires that keeps the perpetual economy going." (Simms & Smith 2008). Clearly, this culture of disposability is failing to make us any happier.


James, O. (2007) Affluenza. London: Vermilion.

Lane, R.E. (2000) The Loss of Happiness in Market Democracies. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.

Layard, R. (2005) Happiness: Lessons from a New Science. London: Penguin.

Simms, A. & Smith, J. (2008) Do Good Lives Have to Cost the Earth? London: Constable.

photo: getty images