Jealousy may be driven by low self-esteem or a poor self-image. If you don't feel attractive and confident, it can be hard to truly believe that your partner loves and values you. Other times, jealousy can be caused by unrealistic expectations about the relationship.
Research has identified many root causes of extreme jealousy, including low self-esteem, high neuroticism, and feeling possessive of others, particularly romantic partners. Fear of abandonment is also a key motivator.
Pathological jealousy, also known as morbid jealousy, Othello syndrome or delusional jealousy, is a psychological disorder in which a person is preoccupied with the thought that their spouse or sexual partner is being unfaithful without having any real proof, along with socially unacceptable or abnormal behaviour ...
10 Signs Someone Is Extremely Envious or Jealous of You
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What is the psychology of a jealous person?
Jealousy can be a sign of insecurity. Jealousy is a fear of losing something you already have, like a relationship or friendship. People who deal with jealousy may often feel threatened by other people. You may also feel that you are in competition with others, even if you're not.
Research has identified many root causes of extreme jealousy, including low self-esteem, high neuroticism, and feeling possessive of others, particularly romantic partners. Fear of abandonment is also a key motivator.
Your health. Intense jealousy can take over your everyday life and lead to sleep problems and a poor appetite. Intense feelings of jealousy can have similar effects to chronic anxiety, including: a raised heart rate.
Signs you may be experiencing jealousy include: Anger toward a person or situation that is interfering with something you care about. Resentment of a friend or partner when they can't spend time with you. Difficulty feeling happy for a coworker when they receive something you wanted.
Envy and jealousy also add to stress and anger that are closely tied to several illnesses. Anger has been shown to be a risk factor for heart disease. Also, long-term stress harms the immune system and has been linked with some forms of cancer.
Unhealthy jealous behavior happens when we indulge that feeling and act impulsively from a place of suspicion and insecurity. When insecurity in our relationships run rampant, jealousy can rapidly grow into paranoia and obsession and threaten to destroy the very relationship we're most afraid to lose.
Insulting or guilt-tripping a friend because they spent time with someone you don't like.
Isolating your partner from people who trigger feelings of jealousy, like her close male friend or her mother who you suspect doesn't think you're good enough for her.
Talk about their fears and anxieties: sit down and ask them exactly what's going on. Since jealousy is an indicator that a person feels threatened or scared, it's important that you listen with empathy and compassion, without telling them these feelings are wrong (especially if you know your partner has anxiety)
Sometimes feeling a twinge of jealousy is a sign there's something you need to work on in a relationship or some aspect of that relationship isn't going how you want it to be going. But, unchecked, consuming jealousy can be toxic and destroy relationships.
Summary: Jealousy increases activity in the cingulate cortex and lateral septum, areas of the brain associated with social pain and pair bonding, researchers report.
When jealousy creeps into a romantic relationship, it can often fester into controlling tactics to assert dominance. “Do not ignore this red flag because it could also lead to an abusive and controlling situation,” says Kelman.
