Jealousy Flashcards
Jealousy
The emotional reaction to a
perceived threat to an existing
relationship
Envy
A person’s desire to obtain
something that someone else
already possesses
Rivalry
Two people compete for
something neither one
possesses
Basic Types of Jealousy
-
Reactive jealousy: Occurs in response to a real threat to a valued
relationship -
Suspicious jealousy: Occurs in response to an imagined thread to a
valued relationship
One’s partner hasn’t misbehaved and one’s suspicions may not fit the facts at hand
Three Components of Jealousy
Multi-dimentional Jealousy Scale
Cognitive: “how often do you have the following thoughts?”
o I suspect that X may be attracted to someone else
o I think that X is secretly developing a relationship with someone else
o I’m worried that someone is trying to seduce X
Emotional: “how would you react to the following?”
o X hugs and kisses someone of the opposite sex [gender they are interested in]
o X comments on how great looking someone else is
o X is flirting with someone of the opposite sex [gender they are interested in]
Behavioral: “how often do you engage in these behaviors?”
o I call X unexpectedly, just to see if they are there
o I look through X’s drawers, handbag, pockets
o I join in whenever I see X talking to a member of the opposite sex [gender they are interested in]
Causes of
Jealousy
- Low Self-Esteem
Causes of Jealousy
continued
Relational factors
Feelings of inadequacy in the
relationship
- May stem from
imbalance/inequity in the
relationship
Dependance on a relationship
* The threat of loss is real
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