Dark Side Communications Exam 2

jealousy

need to protect or defend from threat of perceived or actual rival

• requires 3 people

rivalry

when at least 2 people compete for some award

envy

when you wish you had something another person possesses

romantic jealousy

occurs when a rival 3rd party interferes with the continuation/quality of your romantic relationships

• types: sexual, intimacy, activity, power, friends & family

reactive jealousy (normal)

• there’s an actual threat to relationship

• mild/moderate degree of emotional distress

• undertaking of behaviors intended to protect relationship from threat

pathological jealousy

• imagined threat

• extreme emotional distress

• possible use of obsessive detection and protection behaviors

cognitive jealousy

negative thoughts (suspicions, anxieties) about threat of rival 3rd party

• primary appraisal - more general, involve assessment of nature of rival’s relationship

• secondary (4 types)

  • assessment of romantic partner’s motives

  • social comparison of oneself to rival

  • assessment of one’s own alternatives to the relationship

  • assessment of what would be lost if the relationship ended

behavioral jealousy

detection/prevention behaviors we use when a 3rd party rival is perceived

emotional jealousy

affected states that often accompany the jealousy experience (fear, anger, sadness)

constructive responses

typically result in positive outcomes

integrative communication

productive, nonaggressive discussion focused on solving the problem

compensatory restoration

behaviors directed toward improving yourself or the relationship

destructive responses

lead to negative individual and relational consequences

violent communication

not just physical violence, but also threats of physical harm to partner

negative communication

wide range of behaviors that are damaging/destructive, but stop short of violence/threats

counter-jealousy induction

purposeful attempts to make romantic partner jealous because they made you jealous first

avoidant communication

goal is to avoid communication about jealousy experience

• denial

• silence

signs of possession

public displays used to communicate that your partner is “taken”

rival derogation

when you attempt to put down the rival in an effort to make them seem less attractive to partner

surveillance

overt or covert activities intended to find out about rival relationship to reduce uncertainty

rival contact

direct contact with rival, sometimes for info-seeking purposes to reduce uncertainty about rival’s intentions