Stage 4: Medea At this stage, the grip of the spell of envy appears almost irreversible. This Medea dimension is the strongest in individuals who are in dead end relationships or feelings devalued, feel low self-esteem.
Jealousy is a “complex of thoughts, feelings, and actions which follow threats to self-esteem and/or threats to the existence or quality of the relationship” (White, 1981, p. 129). According to Pfeiffer and Wong (1989), jealousy construct consists of three dimensions: emotional, cognitive, and behavioral.
We can identify six major types of jealousy: pathological (paranoid), romantic, sexual, rational, irrational and intentional. Pathological jealousy is an abnormal type of jealousy that often occurs as a symptom accompanied by a number of other mental disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Jealousy is often rooted in insecurities and fears that a person may not even realize they have. These could include fear of oversimplification, fear of inadequacy, fear of abandonment, fear of being replaced, and fear of being judged.
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.
There is not one root cause for someone's jealous behaviors or feelings, but there are a few reasons why someone might feel this way, including insecurity, past history, or fear of loss. Jealousy can be triggered by these and might create tensions within your relationships.
“Jealousy is the highest form of flattery.”
Signs that you might be jealous are: You don't trust your partner when you're not together. You get concerned when they mention other people. You constantly check their social media to see what they're doing.
n. a negative emotion in which an individual resents a third party for appearing to take away (or being likely to take away) the affections of a loved one.
Jealousy breeds suspicion, doubt, and mistrust, which can snowball into pretty intense emotions and behaviors, he says. We may become preoccupied with the fear of betrayal. We might start checking up on our friend or partner constantly, trying to “catch them.” We might become possessive of that 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.
Healthy Jealousy
This exists when a person is afraid something or someone better will end the relationship. This mild form of jealousy is normal because it's connected to the love and importance they have for the relationship. It's proof that they put their partner first, and want their partner to reciprocate that.
Morbid jealousy is signaled by irrational, obsessive thoughts centered around a lover or ex-lover's possible sexual unfaithfulness, together with unacceptable or extreme behavior. Surprisingly, it occurs more often in older individuals and in males. The average age at onset is 38 years.
It's a kaleidoscope of intensity. First, there is a wave of intense emotion—sometimes a combination of overpowering anxiety, anger, and confusion. The anxiety is focused on the fear of losing the affection and attention of someone you feel is essential to your happiness.
The primary component of complex jealousy is self-diminishment - you feel unlovable and inadequate as an intimate partner. These "core hurts" give rise to the obsessions.
Other words for envious
1. resentful, jealous, covetous.
Extreme Jealously
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.
Jealousy generally refers to the thoughts or feelings of insecurity, fear, and concern over a relative lack of possessions or safety. Jealousy can consist of one or more emotions such as anger, resentment, inadequacy, helplessness or disgust.
Jealousy is an emotion reflecting weakness and desperation. Females are predominately associated with emotion, which may be why they are thought of as being more jealous than males. Males are generally associated with “tougher” forms of emotion, such as anger.
Past studies have shown that jealousy peaks in adolescence.
Delusional jealousy is a psychotic disorder and should be treated mainly with antipsychotics, while obsessive jealousy resembles obsessive-compulsive disorder and should be treated with SSRIs and cognitive-behavioural therapy.
In the real world, making your ex jealous is a problematic behavior that shouldn't be idolized or mimicked. According to psychodynamic therapist Claire McRitchie, the behavior is actually a form of control and self-protection, whether or not the person exhibiting it knows this, and ultimately, it's not healthy.