Principlev1
Distinguish between hedonic signals (sensory pleasure
Distinguish between hedonic signals (sensory pleasure adapting through repetition), achievement signals (satisfaction from competence), and eudaimonic signals (joy from values alignment) when designing for sustainable well-being, as only eudaimonic signals resist adaptation.
Why This Is a Principle
Derives from People rapidly adapt to material improvements, returning to (hedonic adaptation returns people to baseline) and Encoding Depth Determines Retention (memory encoding depth determines retention). The distinction between pleasure (adapts), satisfaction (achievement-based), and joy (values-based) prescribes building around the only signal type that doesn't deplete through repetition because it regenerates meaning each time.