ps373 - jealousy

3 feelings that define jealousy

Hurt, anger, and fear

Jealousy

An emotional reaction to perceived threats to a valued relationship

2 primary types of jealousy

1. Reactive

2. Suspicious

Reactive jealousy

Occurs when a real, legitimate threat is present

Suspicious jealousy

Occurs when one’s partner has not misbehaved and one’s suspicions do not fit the facts at hand

Evolutionary theory: Men are jealous because…

Paternity uncertainty = unless he is completely confident that his mate has been faithful to him, he cannot be sure that her child is his

Evolutionary theory: Women are jealous because…

Differential investment hypothesis: women must invest in parenting to avoid being abandoned by their partner

Harris and Christenfeld (1996) Gender Difference Finding

1. Women believe men’s love implies sex

2. Men believe women’s sex implies love

Some may view jealousy as…

A sign of love

Why do we try to make our partner’s jealous? — Fleischmann (2005)

1. To seek reward

2. To punish partner

Why do people induce jealousy?

1. Relational distancing

2. Flirtation façade

3. Highlight alternatives

Mate guarding

The physical/erbal guarding of a mate to deny other potential mates of the opportunity to be with them

Double-shot hypothesis

• introduced by harris & christenfeld (1996)

• Responses to hypothetical infidelity based on differential implications learned through socialization

Sabini & Green (2004) - Emotional responses to sexual and emotional infidelity result

• men reported being more upset by physical infidelity

• Women more upset by emotional infidelity

• Both men and women said they would be hurt by emotional, angered by sexual

Loss to a rival is more ____ than _____

Distressing; sheer rejection

The interloper

A person who meddles in other’s relationship affairs

The presence of a threatening rival may…

Motivate people to try and retain their partner’s interest… by trying to be similar to a romantic rival

Types of mate guarding

1. Intersexual directed at one’s own mate

2. Intrasexual directed at same-sex rivals

3 aspects of intersexual mate guarding

1. Direct mate guarding

2. Intersexual negative inducements

3. Intersexual positive inducements

Direct mate guarding includes…

1. Vigilance = calling partner unexpectedly

2. Concealment of mate = taking partner away from rivals

3. Monopolizing time = spending all free time with mate

Intersexual negative inducements includes…

1. Infidelity threat = flirt with others in front of partner

2. Punishing mate’s infidelity threat = getting angry at partner for flirting

3. Emotional manipulation = making partner feel guilty

4. Derogation of competitors = insulting same-sex rivals in front of partner

5. Violence

Intersexual positive inducements include…

1. Resource display = giving gifts

2. Sexual inducement = giving into partner’s sexual requests

3. Appearance enhancement

4. Submission and debasement

2 aspects to Intrasexual mate guarding

1. Public signals of possession

2. Intrasexual negative inducements

Public signals of possession includes…

1. Verbal signals = loudly introducing partner

2. Physical signals = holding hands in front of rival

3. Possessive ornamentation = giving partner jewelry

Intrasexual negative inducements include…

1. Derogation of one’s own mate

2. Intrasexual threats

3. Violence

Men who mate guard…

• have more sex with their partners

• Do it more when married to young and attractive wives

• Mate guard more when closer to ovulation

Women who mate guard…

• more when husbands have higher income

• Mate guard more against rivals who are ovulating

Mate guarding prevents…

Infidelity and cuckholding for men

Mate poachers

Those who pursue a romantic relationship with someone who is currently in another relationship

Why is mate poaching risky?

• risk retaliation from the poachee’s current partner

• Risk reputational damage if they become known as a serial poacher

Mate poachers typically…

Try to disguise their efforts (1) initiating friendships with poachees first, (2) select targets who are easier to poach

Mate poachers tend to be higher in…

Risk-taking, competitiveness, manipulativeness, and narcissicm

Mate poachers have more…

Lifetime sex and more dating partners than non-poachers

Jealousy and infidelity are closely related and are a…

Leading cause of relationship dissolution