Definition
Adaptation-level theory describes the process by which a person becomes insensitive to the effects of constant stimuli.
Description
Early research on adaptation focused on sensory stimuli, such as the effects of continual exposure to unchanging visual, auditory, or olfactory stimuli (Helson, 1964). This research found that the initial effects that one experiences upon being exposed to an unchanging sensory stimulus quickly dissipate with time. Upon entering a bakery, for example, a customer may immediately notice the smell of coffee and doughnuts. After being in the bakery for a few minutes, however, he or she will no longer experience those initial smells. This change in the customer’s sensory experiences occurred because the smell-inducing stimulus is constant. That is, the molecules that produced the initial sensory experience are still present in the air, but the customer has adapted to their constant presence.
In addition to occurring for unchanging sensory stimuli,...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Bowling, N. A., Beehr, T. A., Wagner, S. H., & Libkuman, T. M. (2005). Adaptation-level theory, opponent process theory, and dispositions: An integrated approach to the stability of job satisfaction. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90, 1044–1053.
Brickman, P., Coates, D., & Janoff-Bulman, R. (1978). Lottery winners and accident victims: Is happiness relative? Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 36, 917–927.
Helson, H. (1964). Adaptation-level theory. Oxford, England: Harper & Row.
Lucas, R. E. (2007). Adaptation and the set-point model of subjective well-being: Does happiness change after major life events? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 16, 75–79.
Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M., & Schkade, D. (2005). Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology, 9, 111–131.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this entry
Cite this entry
Bowling, N. (2014). Adaptation-Level Theory. In: Michalos, A.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_25
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_25
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-0752-8
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-0753-5
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law