Effect of Relationship Length on the Experience, Expression, and Perceived Appropriateness of Jealousy

Abstract

The effect of relationship length on the perceived appropriateness and intensity of the experience and expression of romantic jealousy among American students was explored. Linear increases in perceived appropriateness and intensity of jealousy were predicted. The results largely supported the hypotheses, with jealousy experience, expression, and perceived appropriateness of jealousy expression increasing over time. However, the perceived appropriateness of jealousy experience did not vary significantly across relationship lengths. Ethnic differences in perceptions of appropriateness of jealousy experience and expression were also found.

Experiencing and Communicating Romantic Jealousy: Questioning the Investment Model

“…Further, this negative association is inconsistent with the investment model. In particular, the model suggests that commitment and satisfaction share a positive relationship and previous research has determined that a positive relationship exists between commitment and jealousy experience (Aune & Comstock, 1997), which also suggests a positive relationship between satisfaction and jealousy experience. Thus, to examine the inconsistency between previous research findings and theoretical predictions, a research question posited:…”

“…For example, Bringle, Renner, Terry, and Davis (1983) found that the more committed an individual, the more likely he or she was to be jealous. Further, increased interdependence and commitment to a romantic relationship was positively associated with the jealousy experience (Aune & Comstock, 1997). The combined findings for dependence and commitment led to the third hypothesis:…”

Conflict Strategies and Intimacy: Variations by Romantic Relationship Development and Gender

“…We could find no theoretical or empirical data to provide guidance on how to use duration to create categories or groups (e.g., the literature does not inform us about the typical time a couple is in a relationship prior to experiencing relational uncertainty). Following many other studies (Aune et al, 1994;Aune & Comstock, 1997;Duemmler & Kobak, 2001;Marcus & Swett, 2002), a three-way split based on frequencies was used to create three groups (short, moderate, and long). Participants who reported a relationship duration of seven months or less (N = 94) were included in the short duration group.…”

“…Previous research has used similar procedures for transforming relationship duration into a categorical variable (Aune et al, 1994;Aune & Comstock, 1997;Duemmler & Kobak, 2001;Marcus & Swett, 2002). Our assessment of intimacy in this study was as a reciprocal variable where participants reported on both their own perceptions of the relationship and what they believed to be their partners' perceptions of the relationship.…”

‘‘At least with cheating there is an attempt at monogamy’’: Cheating and monogamism among undergraduate heterosexual men

“…After entering into a sexual relationship, participants initially feel satisfied with monogamy, maintaining a sexual fulfillment that comes from early relationship bliss (Aune & Comstock, 1997). At this stage, most view those who cheat as immoral, and rarely consider that they might themselves one day cheat.…”