So I was just thinking about why people get jealous. Then I thought: If I had a girlfriend I wasn't really into, I wouldn't get jealous by almost anything she did. Then I thought, even if I liked her, if I knew I could do way better, I still wouldn't get jealous. What makes me jealous is thinking that I can't do better, so I'm trying to preserve what I have.

Well, there's nothing to be jealous of any more (BOO YEAH!) but it was a passing thought I want more insight on. Especially by someone who does psych.

To summarize: What is jealousy, and basically, what are some reasons it's caused? Is what I described correct, or am I mixing that up with something else?

I actually think you hit the nail firmly on the head. Jealousy in this case could probably be fear of loss.

In another sense, it's want. When you're jealous over something you -don't- have.

Greed or Gluttony? You decide! *inserts phone number for cheap game show*

Personally I think it all ties back to our primal instincts. Having a female to our own, makes us feel better and higher in social rank than other males. When our female is talking to another male, we get the feeling of being threatened by this other male, that our female might just approve of the new male much more than you. So, we get these feelings that we call jealousy.

At least, this is the way I see it.

That is, with the female male part of jealousy, other forms work on the same principle..just different, kinda.

NEVERMIND OMFG<M !K#@N$LKJ2n3 =)

[This message has been edited by Influx (edited 01-14-2007).]

You should try what I suggested you do when we talked about this months ago.

There's only one guaranteed method to understand the nature of jealousy, and you have to understand a problem before you are capable of even trying to solve it.

Want to understand it? Date a girl who you know is the jealous type, who would normally see you as out of her league, fill in the rest of the details yourself. Basically find out what it's like to experience irrational jealousy from the other person's point of view.

Try any other method under the sun, none will work as quickly and effectively as the one I outlined.

quote:Originally posted by fullcircle:

There's only one guaranteed method to understand the nature of jealousy, and you have to understand a problem before you are capable of even trying to solve it.

It actually sounds like a plan.

I've dealt with irrational jealousy, but from a girl who knows she can do better. Hmmm...

*edit*

I just realised how right you are, because a while back I shortly dated this INSANELY clingy chick. It made me disgusted by clingy/needy personallity traits.

[This message has been edited by arquin (edited 01-14-2007).]

I was always jealous because someone was taking something that was mine. I wasn't the jealous type before, in fact I was completely against monogamous relationships, having just read a good bit of Goldman...But then she told me that she was mine. And then acted to the contrary. Betrayal? Yes. Educational? Incredibly.

It's hard to learn that there's no reason to be jealous, but its an incredibly good lesson to learn.

quote:Originally posted by Rizzo in a box:

It's hard to learn that there's no reason to be jealous, but its an incredibly good lesson to learn.

How'd you go about learning otherwise?

Everything everyone has said is valid. There's various reasons. It can be egotism and fear of losing ownership. It can be fear of being alone. It can be lack of trust. It can be heaps of shit. Personally, I get jealous/heartbroken when I hear about my ex dating and such. I know I don't want him, but it kills me anyway. Why? 'Cause he's been mine ever since he's been eligible, until I left him. Really not fair on the poor boy, seeing as he's trying to move on and I keep bitching about it, even though I wont take him back. Jealousy is a killer.