Have you ever worked hard for something you knew was going to pay off, only to be disappointed when that long-awaited day finally comes? Maybe you pined for something, some milestone, or even someone. Maybe it was a promotion, a relationship, or even a big event like a vacation or a sporting event. You’ve put time and money and effort into it, only to be left feeling like you strove so hard for something that, maybe, wasn’t worth having.
Join us as we discuss Paris Syndrome, buyer’s remorse, the Hedonic Treadmill, and what research says about what actually makes us happy.
Key Points:
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Research suggests there’s an actual equation to determine happiness, and much of it is in our control (but not all).
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Most people suffer from buyer’s remorse over purchases large and small.
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The phenomenon of “Paris Syndrome” is a form of culture shock and disappointment some are said to feel when they visit Paris the first time and find that, despite its glamorous and gleaming depiction in movies and on Instagram, it can be a very grimy, unwelcoming, and decidedly unromantic city.
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The Hedonic Treadmill is “the observed tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes. According to this theory, as a person makes more money, expectations, and desires rise in tandem, which results in no permanent gain in happiness,” according to Stephanie Rosenbloom.
Resources Mentioned:
- Three Psychological Principles to Consider Before You Make Your Next Purchase by Sarah Gervais
- Uh-Oh: How to Handle Buyer’s Remorse When What You Just Bought Is a House by Dena Landon
- How To Avoid Buyer’s Remorse by Zachary Crockett
- The Hedonic Treadmill entry on Wikipedia
- HigherEchelon, Inc. is a consulting firm providing Human Capital Services including executive coaching and training in leadership, resilience, adaptability, applied high performance, change management, and a range of mental, emotional, and psychological skillsets meant to optimize organizational performance. The organization also provides a range of technology services such as Salesforce implementations and consulting, Enterprise Technology solutions, Gaming and Simulation services, and Cyber and Engineering Services.
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Belle Curve Podcast is sponsored by HigherEchelon, Inc. and co-hosted by HigherEchelon Director of Communication Rachel Bryars.