Final answer:
Both lottery winners and paraplegics return to similar levels of happiness over time due to hedonic adaptation, where people adjust to changes and revert to a baseline level of happiness. This concept is influenced by genetic, psychological, and environmental factors, showing that happiness is complex and not solely based on circumstances.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research suggests that both million-dollar lottery winners and paraplegics report similar levels of happiness due to a phenomenon known as hedonic adaptation. When individuals experience significant life changes, whether positive or negative, their levels of happiness tend to return to a baseline over time. Studies, including one by Brickman et al. (1978), have demonstrated that lottery winners initially experience a surge of happiness, but this euphoria diminishes as they become accustomed to their new wealth. Similarly, paraplegics also undergo a period of adaptation, eventually finding new sources of satisfaction and meaning despite their challenging circumstances.
Additional factors that contribute to this phenomenon include the genetic and environmental influences on happiness identified by Johnson & Krueger (2006), as well as psychological processes involving perceptions and motivations as explored by Lyubomirsky (2001). This concept highlights the complexity of happiness and how it is not solely determined by external circumstances but also by internal cognitive processes and the individual's ability to adapt.