Type of jealousy differentially predicts cost‐inflicting and benefit‐provisioning mate retention

Abstract

Jealousy is argued to be an adaptive emotion that coordinates the use of mate retention acts, denoting behavior intended to guard a relationship from rivals, to prevent infidelity, and to hinder defection from the mateship. Nevertheless, few researchers have examined these relations. We sampled 144 women and men in romantic relationships and found that anxious (unease over potential infidelity) and preventive (preventing one's partner from consorting with others) but not reactive (anger over a partner being unfaithful) jealousy positively predicted costinflicting mate retention. Only anxious jealousy positively predicted benefit-provisioning acts. Sex moderated the relations between reactive jealousy with cost-inflicting and benefit-provisioning behavior, such that reactively jealous women used more of both kinds of mate retention.

Relationship-Contingent Self-Esteem as a Moderator of Borderline Personality Features and Mate Retention

“…In contrast, men were less inclined to use either type of mate retention behavior when experiencing feelings of reactive jealousy. Additionally, men were found to report experiencing much lower levels of reactive jealousy when compared to women (Davis et al, 2018).…”

“…One key factor that may lead to relationship dissolution is infidelity (Betzing, 1989). Furthermore, people may feel jealous when they perceive any threat in their relationship (Davis, Desrochers, DiFilippo, Vaillancourt, & Arnocky, 2018). Jealousy may serve as motivation to protect or preserve one's relationship (Davis et al, 2018).…”

“…Furthermore, people may feel jealous when they perceive any threat in their relationship (Davis, Desrochers, DiFilippo, Vaillancourt, & Arnocky, 2018). Jealousy may serve as motivation to protect or preserve one's relationship (Davis et al, 2018). In turn, there may be specific behaviors that follow jealousy and serve to maintain the relationship.…”

“…willingly giving in or following a partner's wishes or demands), while newlywed wives were more likely to use appearance enhancement tactics (Kaighobadi, Shackelford, & Buss, 2010). Additionally, women are more inclined to use benefit-provisioning and cost-inflicting mate retention behaviors after experiencing feelings of reactive jealousy (i.e., feelings of jealousy that arise in cases where one's partner may have been unfaithful; Davis et al, 2018). In contrast, men were less inclined to use either type of mate retention behavior when experiencing feelings of reactive jealousy.…”

The Role of Mating-relevant Factors in the Perpetration of Digital Dating Abuse

“…As a result of the risk posed by mate poaching, mate retention tactics are employed to Digital Dating Abuse and Romantic Relationships protect one's investment in a romantic relationship and to protect a romantic partner from romantic rivals. Such behaviours may be benefit-provisioning (such as gift giving or compliments) and/or cost-inflicting (such as manipulating a romantic partner, see Davis et al, 2018). Cost-inflicting behaviours such as abuse are often employed to prevent a partner from leaving a romantic relationship (Miner et al, 2009).…”