Oftentimes, a guy may try to make you jealous because he feels insecure about your feelings for him. His insecurity doesn't make the behavior acceptable, but it does make it quite normal. His attempts at making you jealous might be his way of trying to capture your attention.
Research suggests that people often behave with others the same way they think others behave with them. Men often try to make their partners jealous out of insecurity. It's not a reflection of you not being good enough for them. Sometimes, they're just immature, and arousing jealousy is the only defense they know.
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.
Acknowledge & Openly Talk About Jealousy
Communication is key! In many instances, jealousy is an internal battle, so do some introspection. Then, share what you discover with your partner. Be truthful about how you feel and what makes you uncomfortable, creating boundaries for yourself and the relationship.
If you're the target of jealousy, you may feel like someone (usually a partner or friend) is trying to control your life. They might do things such as check up on you, try to tell you what to do (or not do) and how to act, or limit your contact with friends and coworkers.
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.
review that there are many reasons for why someone tries to induce jealousy, including someone just wanting to be taken out more by a mate, testing the relationship, doing it just for fun, to get rewards (like gifts), and wanting to gain self-confidence or a feeling of power.
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.
There could be many reasons a man would choose to make you jealous rather than sit down and open up. Some guys think that seeing you jealous also means you have the same feelings for him. It's also a way for him to get the attention he wants from you.
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.
Let's discuss the definition of jealousy and love and whether or not they are as related as many people seem to think they are. In short, no, jealousy and love are not the same things. You can exhibit signs of jealousy over someone you do not love, and sometimes there is love entirely devoid of jealousy.
To get attention and reassurance that you care. When you react to someones behavior it reinforces in their mind that in future if they are craving attention, they can obtain it through said action. If you want him to stop doing whatever it is that provokes a reaction in you, stop reacting.
Some men flirt because it makes them feel good about themselves when they are otherwise fairly insecure. In other words, he may be trying to get a positive or equal reaction from the other woman to endorse that he is desirable.
Another way to make him worry about losing you is to be less physically available. This can include making him hold out for physical intimacy, but it also means having a tighter schedule that he doesn't always fit in. Please don't ghost him (that's just immature).
If you notice he is making more eye contact with you or you catch a guy staring at you, he is probably attracted to you. He may be enthralled by your good looks and may be fantasizing about kissing you. Perhaps he stares at you and smiles; that could mean he likes you, too.
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.
Jealousy only works if the guy has feelings for you. If he's totally not interested, you'll have a very hard time making him jealous. The good news is, any guy you're dating or that you have dated is almost certainly interested in you, and the same can be said with guys that have been flirting with you.