Are humans addicted to novelty?

Note: Take a step back. I’m in no way stating that every single person experiences life this way. I’m going to speak in generalizations based on my own experience. If this doesn’t apply to you, move on and find a “jelly below me” thread.

Ever so often, I wean myself off coffee and will do without it for a few months. When I have then have my first cup of coffee, I can’t believe how amazing it feels. The whole experience – the aroma while brewing, the flavor, and finally the huge energy boost – is so amazing. The next day is the same thing, then the next. But suddenly, I find myself walking into a Dunkin’ Donuts at 2pm to dose up to avoid a caffeine headache. What was once an experience that I looked forward to and truly enjoyed and benefitted from has turned into pure habit. I no longer felt grateful to have that cup in the morning. I expect it.

It seems that there are many things that go from being rare treats to something that we expect and demand. And I’m not just talking about food. It could be a piece of technology that quickly goes from awe-inspiring to required. Or it could be the first time you own a sharp chef’s knife. At some point, you integrate that into your list of minimum requirements.

Extreme examples are obvious to see in other people, but they may be more difficult to see in ourselves. I know people who use, ”I just want” statements as if the fulfillment of this desire would really be the only (“just”) thing that would do satisfy. But a check-in after they get this wish fulfilled results in another ”I just want” statement, with absolutely no acknowledgement that their previous wish has been satisfied. ”I just want a baby”, ”I just want a second baby”, ”I just want a larger house”, ”I just want a smaller house”, ”I just want a job”, ”I just want chickens”, ”I just want to fall in love”, ”I just want to learn how to play the piano”, etc.

But in my experience, we all experience this to some degree. Today’s luxury is tomorrow added to a minimal requirements list. Note: I’m not referring to only possessions, and I’m not talking about things that we bore of and discard. I’m describing things that we seemingly bore of but are integrated into what we now require.

So, other than the obvious human condition of desiring things to be other than they are, is there anything psychologically that can explain what appears to be these addictive patterns?

Is this adaptive? Is it the driving force behind “progress”, and is it what people often describe as “ambition”? Are we incapable of deriving sustained pleasure from a condition?

I apologize for the soft quality of this question. I wasn’t sure exactly how to ask it, and was interested in peoples’ thoughts on this – especially if they have had experience with addiction.