Features of the manifestation of romantic jealousy and building relationships in men and women

Aim. The purpose of this article is to determine the characteristics and predictors of jealousy manifested in romantic relationships in men and women.

 Methodology. Based on theoretical analysis and an empirical study conducted on a sample of 300 people (150 couples), predictors and features of the manifestation of jealousy in men and women of different ages were identified. The study involved men and women aged 18 to 54 years old who were in romantic relationships (the age of partners, status and length of romantic relationships were taken into account in the study). The following psychodiagnostic techniques were used: “Multidimensional jealousy scale” by S. M. Pfeiffer and P. T. Wong, adapted by A. O. Vergeichik; jealousy test by E. P. Ilyin, 2013; questionnaire “Communicative reactions to jealousy” L. K. Guerrero (adapted by I. A. Furmanov and A. O. Vergeichik); multi-questionnaire for measuring romantic attachment in adults (MIMARA, adapted by O. A. Ekimchik, T. A. Kryukova, 2009); method “Subjective assessment of interpersonal relationships” (S. V. Dukhnovsky, 2006); relationship assessment scale by S. Hendrik (adapted by O. Sychev, 2016). A comparative analysis of the manifestations of jealousy in a group of men and women was carried out, taking into account socio-demographic indicators (using the t-Student criterion), as well as a correlation and regression analysis of jealousy and the peculiarities of building interpersonal relationships.

 Results. As a result of the comparative analysis, the specifics of jealousy in the male and female samples were revealed. Thus, in the structure of women’s jealousy, the cognitive and behavioral component is more pronounced in comparison with men. Women are more likely to actively distance themselves and openly express their jealousy towards a romantic partner; men are more likely to display negative affective reactions and integrative strategies in an attempt to retain or win back a partner. When building relationships, both men and women who are more jealous feel dissatisfaction, tension, conflict, as well as fear of abandonment. Jealous women are more likely to draw closer to their partner in fear of losing him, and men are more likely to experience frustration. Age, the presence of children, and long relationship experience mitigate negative predictors of romantic jealousy.

 Research implications. The results of the study expand the understanding of the phenomenon of jealousy and show the gender-role specificity of behavior in a situation of jealousy. The results of the study may form the basis for the development of psychotherapeutic methods of working with jealousy in a couple’s relationship, taking into account the specifics associated with gender.

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