Jealousy in love relationships

Jealousy is an integral part of social life, it is present in almost all types of relationships, from family relationships to those in the business world, but it is studied most often in the context of romantic relationships. It is considered to be one of the most intense and most often present emotions in such relationships. People differ greatly in the frequency and intensity of their experiences of jealousy. 

In general, the results of most research show that women achieve higher levels of jealousy than men. 

Jealousy is a feeling that usually refers to negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety regarding expected loss of something a person cares about, such as a relationship, friendship, or love. It often consists of a combination of feelings of anger, sadness, and disgust.

For jealousy to occur, a third person, i.e. a rival, is not necessary to exist, nor is there a need for an actual attraction between one’s partner and a third person. Jealousy can also occur in people who are not in a relationship. They are not afraid of losing a partner, but of losing the opportunity for love. However, it most often occurs in people who are currently in a relationship.

Jealousy is rarely pleasant, and mostly negatively affects a romantic relationship and can ruin it. Surveys among students show that approximately half of respondents have broken up at least once due to jealousy-related problems, while approximately 10% of respondents cite it as a recurring problem in their current romantic relationships. 

Although it is most often recognized as negative, jealousy does not always have to have such a connotation. Some people may become more committed to a relationship once they realize they have a partner others desire. In addition, jealousy can be a sign that partners care about each other so they want to keep the relationship from danger, which can then even lead to greater satisfaction in the relationship. 

In terms of the association between age and jealousy, research has shown that younger people are more jealous than older people are.