Jealousy
The word jealousy stems from the French jalousie, formed from jaloux and further from Low Latin zelosus. This Latin term traces back to the Greek word zēlos, which sometimes means jealousy but more often signifies emulation, ardour, or zeal. The root connotes boiling or fermenting like yeast. In biblical language, zeal meant tolerating no unfaithfulness while middle English zealous was considered good. One origin word gelus meant possessive and suspicious before the word turned into jelus. Since William Shakespeare used terms like green-eyed monster in Othello Act III Scene 3, the color green has been associated with jealousy and envy. From this association comes the expression green with envy.
One possible explanation for the origin of jealousy in evolutionary psychology is that the emotion evolved to maximize the success of our genes. It is a biologically based emotion selected to foster certainty about the paternity of one's own offspring. A jealous behavior in women is directed toward avoiding sexual betrayal and a consequent waste of resources and effort in taking care of someone else's offspring. Experts believe that sexual jealousy is in fact a biological imperative. It may be part of a mechanism by which humans and other animals ensure access to the best reproductive partners. Male jealousy in heterosexual relationships may be influenced by their female partner's phase in her menstrual cycle. In the period around and shortly before ovulation, males are found to display more mate-retention tactics linked to jealousy.
Jealousy is a typical experience in human relationships observed in infants as young as five months. Research by Sybil Hart at Texas Tech University indicates children are capable of feeling and displaying jealousy at as young as six months. Infants showed signs of distress when their mothers focused their attention on a lifelike doll. This research could explain why children and infants show distress when a sibling is born creating the foundation for sibling rivalry. Jealousy in children and teenagers has been observed more often in those with low self-esteem and can evoke aggressive reactions. One such study suggested that developing intimate friends can be followed by emotional insecurity and loneliness in some children when those intimate friends interact with others.
Anthropologists have claimed that jealousy varies across cultures. Cultural learning can influence the situations that trigger jealousy and the manner in which it is expressed. Attitudes toward jealousy can also change within a culture over time. For example attitudes changed substantially during the 1960s and 1970s in the United States. People adopted much more negative views about jealousy as men and women became more equal. A study was done to cross examine jealousy among four different cultures: Ireland, Thailand, India and the United States. The survey found that Thais are less likely to express jealousy than the other three cultures because men in these cultures are rewarded for showing jealousy due to the fact that some women interpret it as love.
Jealousy involves an entire emotional episode including a complex narrative of circumstances leading up to the emotion itself. This includes any attempt at self regulation subsequent actions events and ultimately the resolution of the episode. In addition to traditional jealousy comes Obsessive Jealousy which can be a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. This jealousy is characterized by obsessional jealousy and thoughts of the partner. While mainstream psychology considers sexual arousal through jealousy a paraphilia some authors argue that jealousy in manageable dimensions can have a definite positive effect on sexual function and satisfaction. Studies have shown that jealousy sometimes heightens passion towards partners and increases the intensity of passionate sex.
A painting by Miyagawa Isshō shows a young onnagata catching his older lover with a love letter from a rival. Artistic depictions of jealousy occur in fiction films and other art forms such as painting and sculpture. Jessica R. Frampton conducted a study looking into romantic jealousy in movies finding 230 instances of romantic jealousy identified in the 51 top-grossing romantic comedies from 2002, 2014. Some films did not display romantic jealousy however some featured many examples due to the fact that some top-grossing movies contained no rival or romantic competition. Out of the 230 instances 58% were reactive jealousy while 31% showed possessive jealousy. The last 11% displayed anxious jealousy seen least in all cases.
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Common questions
What is the etymological origin of the word jealousy?
The word jealousy stems from the French jalousie, formed from jaloux and further from Low Latin zelosus. This Latin term traces back to the Greek word zēlos, which sometimes means jealousy but more often signifies emulation, ardour, or zeal.
How does evolutionary psychology explain the biological function of jealousy?
Evolutionary psychology suggests that jealousy evolved to maximize the success of our genes by fostering certainty about the paternity of one's own offspring. It serves as a biologically based emotion selected to avoid sexual betrayal and ensure access to the best reproductive partners.
At what age do infants begin to display signs of jealousy according to research?
Research by Sybil Hart at Texas Tech University indicates children are capable of feeling and displaying jealousy at as young as six months. Infants showed signs of distress when their mothers focused their attention on a lifelike doll.
Which cultures were included in the cross-cultural study of jealousy conducted between 1960s and 1970s?
A study was done to cross examine jealousy among four different cultures: Ireland, Thailand, India and the United States. The survey found that Thais are less likely to express jealousy than the other three cultures because men in these cultures are rewarded for showing jealousy due to the fact that some women interpret it as love.
What percentage of romantic jealousy instances in top-grossing movies from 2002 to 2014 were reactive jealousy?
Out of the 230 instances identified in the 51 top-grossing romantic comedies from 2002 to 2014, 58% were reactive jealousy while 31% showed possessive jealousy. The last 11% displayed anxious jealousy seen least in all cases.