Not everyone responds to jealousy in the same way, and a number of studies have found differences in the ways women and men respond. In general, women are more likely than men to acknowledge feelingjealous (Barker, 1987; Clanton & Smith, 1977). Furthermore, several studies have suggested that a woman’s jealousy tends to focus on her partner’s emotional involvement with another person, whereas a man’s jealousy tends to focus on his partner’s sexual involvement with another (Cramer et al., 2008; Treger & Sprecher, 2011).
Another difference between women’s and men’s jealousy patterns is that women often blame themselves when a conflict over jealousy arises, whereas men typically attribute their jealousy to a third party or to their partner’s behavior (Barker, 1987; Daly et al., 1982). Women have also been shown to be more inclined than men to deliberately provoke jealousy in their partners (Sheets et al., 1997; White & Helbick, 1988). This difference in the sexes’ jealousy patterns might stem from the fact that women experiencing jealousy often suffer simultaneously from feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness. Consequently, a woman’s efforts to arouse jealousy in a partner can actually be an attempt to bolster self-worth by eliciting increased attention from a partner concerned about her actions. Men also often attach feelings of inadequacy to jealousy. However, the relationship is frequently reversed in men, with awareness of jealousy occurring first, followed by feeling inadequate (White & Helbick, 1988).
Love and Commnunication in Intimate Relationships
let’s TALK
ABOUT IT