Can Jealousy Work for You?

"Jealousy is older than cities, older than writing, maybe even older than the myths that warn us about it. Think of the story of Cain and Abel, where jealousy set in motion the first fratricide, or the countless love triangles in Shakespeare's plays. It is clear that jealousy has always been a part of the human experience. From an evolutionary point of view, jealousy was a survival strategy."

"Jealousy and envy get lumped together a lot, but they are not quite the same thing. Jealousy involves the fear of losing something we already have, such as a partner, a friend, or a position. Envy is the desire for what belongs to someone else, such as their job, car, or confidence (Smith & Kim, 2007)."

Jealousy has ancient roots and operated as a survival strategy by motivating vigilance and defensive action to protect resources, mates, and gene propagation. Gendered differences appear in responses to infidelity: men often react more to sexual betrayal, while women respond more to emotional betrayal, reflecting adaptive concerns about paternity certainty and resource commitment. Jealousy and envy stem from social comparison but differ: jealousy fears loss of something already possessed, while envy desires what another has. Modern social media amplifies comparisons and intensifies these emotions. Moderate jealousy can reinforce trust and bonds, whereas chronic or unmanaged jealousy damages self-esteem, increases anxiety, and strains relationships.

Read at Psychology Today