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Harry Helson’S Adaptation-Level Theory, Happiness Treadmills, And Behavioral Economics

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  • Edwards, José

Abstract

Psychologist Harry Helson (1898–1977) developed Adaptation-Level (AL) theory during the 1930s to the 1970s, while economics was being refined through ordinalism and expected utility theory. This essay accounts for the process of transmission of AL theory from psychophysics to behavioral psychology and eventually economics. It explains how the concept of adaptation reflectance, originally intended to explain color vision, developed into an experimental approach that caught the attention of both psychologists and economists working on welfare analysis and behavioral research. It also argues that the history of AL theory—so far, absent from narratives about economics and psychology—is worth exploring in order to gain a better understanding of the relationship between the two disciplines.

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  • Edwards, José, 2018. "Harry Helson’S Adaptation-Level Theory, Happiness Treadmills, And Behavioral Economics," Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Cambridge University Press, vol. 40(1), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jhisec:v:40:y:2018:i:01:p:1-22_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Muharman Lubis & Muhammad Azani Hasibuan & Rachmadita Andreswari, 2022. "Satisfaction Measurement in the Blended Learning System of the University: The Literacy Mediated-Discourses (LM-D) Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-29, October.
    2. Matías Membiela-Pollán & María Alló-Pazos & Carlos Pateiro-Rodríguez & Félix Blázquez-Lozano, 2019. "The Inefficiency of the Neoclassical Paradigm in the Promotion of Subjective Well-Being and Socioeconomic, and Environmental Sustainability: An Empirical Test for the Spanish Case," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-14, December.

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