Distinguishing the experiences of envy and jealousy.

Abstract

This article describes the nature and significance of the distinction between the emotions of envy and jealousy and reports 2 experiments that empirically investigated it. In Experiment 1, Ss recalled a personal experience of either envy or jealousy. In Experiment 2, Ss read 1 of a set of stories in which circumstances producing envy and jealousy were manipulated independently in a factorial design. Both experiments introduced new methodologies to enhance their sensitivity, and both revealed qualitative differences between the 2 emotions. Envy was characterized by feelings of inferiority, longing, resentment, and disapproval of the emotion. Jealousy was characterized by fear of loss, distrust, anxiety, and anger. The practical importance of this distinction, the reasons for its confusion, and general issues regarding the empirical differentiation of emotions are discussed.

Envy and jealousy as discrete emotions: A taxometric analysis

“…Although Parrott and Smith's (1993) work demonstrated that the experiences of envy and jealousy are distinguishable, with distinctive features that compose orthogonal components, this does not in itself show that they represent discrete categories. For example, neuroticism and extraversion are distinct, orthogonal personality dimensions, but there is no evidence that there are discrete categories of neurotics and extraverts (Eysenck, 1967).…”

“…As manifest variation may be continuous whether the latent situation is continuous or discontinuous, specialized methodologies are required to test between these alternatives. The present study attempted to perform such tests on the manifest differences between envy and jealousy demonstrated by Parrott and Smith (1993).…”

“…Parrott and Smith (1993) sought evidence for a "qualitative" distinction between the two emotions, following Salovey and Rodin's (1986) failure to fi nd differences in the profi le of their affective features. In two studies, Parrott and Smith found that when affective intensity was statistically controlled, and when envy-and jealousy-related situational elements were factorially manipulated, many differences could indeed be found.…”

An Ungrateful Disposition: Psychometric Properties of the Dispositional Envy Scale in Brazil

“…There is, however, a fine distinction between the two in that the former involves two people and corresponds to the manifestation of feelings when a person wishes to gain an advantage over another, while the latter involves three people and refers to the feelings aroused when a person fears losing a special relationship with a rival (Epstein, 2006). These terms, however, are often mistaken due to the semantic ambiguity regarding the way in which the word "jealousy" is used in English and because of the frequent occurrence of these two emotions, either simultaneously or separately (Parrott & Smith, 1993).…”

Power, Death and Love: A Trilogy for Entertainment

“…Emotions have social functions [6], and society has an influence on our emotions [7]. Emotions also play a role in our perception of reality down to the perception of our own body generated signals such as pain.…”