Jealousy and Relationship Closeness

Abstract

This study confirmed a hypothesis from the Emotion-in-Relationships conceptual model, which predicts that greater interdependence between relationship partners—or closeness—creates the potential for jealousy. The study also sought to better define the positive side of romantic jealousy in addition to its more negative attributes. College students in premarital relationships (N = 229) completed a questionnaire, including 27 different measures and the Multidimensional Jealousy Scale. Select data were obtained from 122 cases at 3-month follow-up. Each jealousy scale was tested for associations with demographic (age, sex, and race), person (life satisfaction, loneliness, romantic attachment styles, love styles, and romantic beliefs), and relationship (affective, closeness, and social exchange theory) constructs. Results clearly distinguished emotional/reactive jealousy as mostly “good” and cognitive/suspicious jealousy as “bad.” Behavioral jealousy was associated with few measures. Implications are discussed for the interdependence model of relationships and the transactional model of jealousy.

Investigation of Consensually Nonmonogamous Relationships

“…Jealousy generally has negative effects for relationship functioning; it is commonly linked with general relationship conflicts and more pronounced relational impacts, such as distrust and intimate partner violence (Andersen, Eloy, Guerrero, & Spitzberg, 1995;Barnett, Martinez, & Bluestein, 1995;Puente & Cohen, 2003). Additionally, jealousy also is positively associated with relationship longevity, which has led researchers to conclude that it may be evolutionarily beneficial (see Attridge, 2013, for a review). Study of CNM relationships could help resolve this conundrum-as CNM relationships appear to be low in jealousy but high in satisfaction.…”

Jealousy as a Specific Emotion: The Dynamic Functional Model

“…Second, categorical models posit that the different types of jealousy are influenced by different variables—for instance, individual difference variables primarily influence suspicious jealousy, whereas relational variables (e.g., level of dependency) primarily determine reactive jealousy (Attridge, 2013; Bringle, 1991; Rydell & Bringle, 2007). However, the DFMJ proposes that all variables can impact both threat appraisal and manifestations because they are different aspects of the same underlying emotional state of jealousy, not different types of jealousy.…”

Una revisión de los celos románticos en las personas casadas en términos de educación familiar

“…In a study in which the effects of jealousy types on relationship proximity were evaluated, reactive jealousy was considered as good, possessive jealousy as bad in the light of research findings. Reactive jealousy was found to be directly proportional to the relationship proximity (Attridge, 2013).…”

“…It is stated that reactive jealousy symbolized by love has a positive characteristic for the relationship. A couple who fall in love with each other can demonstrate the value they give to their relationship with jealousy response; they can keep their relationship alive (Attridge, 2013).…”