Psychology

Definition: if something is measured to be unusually high or low, the next measurement is likely to be closer to the average or “mean” value.

Example 1: For someone who is going through weight loss journey, after the first few weeks, they see a dramatic drop in their weight. (due to factors like water weight, changes in diet, and the novelty of the new routine.) The rate of weight loss will likely slow down and their weight will start to move closer to their true average or healthy weight range. The initial “honeymoon” phase of rapid weight loss, followed by a leveling off as the body finds a new equilibrium is the fine example of Regression to the mean, which explains why the extreme initial results are unlikely to be sustained long-term.

Example 2: When a newly married couple is deeply in love, their feelings and emotions tend to be at an extreme high. However, over time, as the relationship matures and the couple faces the realities of daily life together, there is often a regression towards a more balanced, “average” level of love and intimacy. The extreme highs and lows of the early relationship tend to even out. The strong negative emotions expressed during these conflicts represent the lower end of the spectrum, compared to the initial infatuation. As the couple works through these challenges and finds a new normal in their relationship, their feelings towards each other are likely to regress back towards a more moderate, sustainable level of love and connection. The extreme highs and lows even out over time.

Tim Kreider says every human emotions will eventually come down to an emotional baseline after experiencing extreme highs and lows.