The psychology of jealousy: Study explores how perceived mate value is linked to relationship conflict

Non-monogamy may reduce jealousy overall, but feeling less desirable can still strain relationships

Comparing yourself with your partner is more common than you'd think. Psychologists even have a term for it: mate value discrepancy (MVD), which is the gap between how attractive, smart or successful each partner feels compared with the other.

Psychology of jealousy: A study of over 500 people found the partner who feels more replaceable is the one who starts more of the fights, and it held true no matter what kind of relationship they were in

How hard would you be to replace? Not in a job interview sense. In the other sense. The romantic one. If your partner lost you tomorrow, how difficult would it be to find someone with your face, your emotional steadiness, your bank account? Would it be, as Beyoncé once said, “I could have another you in a minute?” Now answer it about your partner. Now notice which of those two numbers is bigger. According to new research, that gap, or more preci…

The psychology of jealousy: Study explores how perceived mate value is linked to relationship conflict

A recent study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior suggests that how individuals perceive their own attractiveness and desirability compared to their romantic partners is linked to relationship tension. The findings indicate that feeling more replaceable than a primary partner tends to predict greater conflict and feelings of competition, regardless of whether the relationship is monogamous or open. However, people in consensua…

How biology transformed envy and jealousy into evolutionary compasses

Behind the mirror of our relationships lie two specters that society tends to condemn: jealousy and envy. Often categorized as moral petty flaws or character defects, these emotional responses actually possess a scientific dignity rooted in our evolutionary history. Nature does not waste energy on useless dynamics; every biochemical storm we experience has paid a price in terms of natural selection to ensure we are here today to tell the story.J…