Toward a Broader Conceptualization of Jealousy in Close Relationships: Two Exploratory Studies
Document Type Article
Published by Central States Communication Association in Communication Studies Volume 55, Issue 1, page 14-28.
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Abstract
The study of jealousy is typically restricted to the examination of a third-party threat to one's romantic relationship. In contrast to this rather narrow view, two studies were undertaken to examine the possibility (a) that individuals experience jealousy over a variety of issues, and (b) that jealousy- of any type-occurs and is expressed in non-romantic relationships such as cross-sex friendship. The goal of Study I was to assess the realism of hypothetical situations representing six different types of jealousy suggested within the literature. These included: friend jealousy, arising from an individual's relationships with friends; family jealousy, arising from a partner's relationships with family members; activity jealousy, occurring when a partner is involved in activities such as school, work, or hobbies; power jealousy, arising from influence over a partner being lost to others; intimacy jealousy, arising when one feels that more advice is sought from or disclosed to others; and romantic jealousy, involving a (perceived) third-party threat to a relationship's exclusive nature.