Jealousy in response to online and offline infidelity: the role of sex and sexual orientation

Pieternel Dijkstra*, Dick P. H. Barelds, Hinke A. K. Groothof

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    35 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The goal of the present study was to examine the emotional content and intensity of jealousy in response to different types of infidelity (both online and offline unfaithful partner behaviors) among Dutch heterosexuals (n=191) and homosexuals (n=121). Based on previous research (Dijkstra, Barelds & Groothof, 2010), participants were presented with ten jealousy-evoking situations following which the intensity of two different emotional aspects of jealousy was assessed (betrayal/anger and threat). Results showed that scenarios describing a partner having sex with someone else or falling in love with someone else primarily evoked betrayal/anger-related jealousy, whereas scenarios describing an emotional connection between a partner and someone else primarily evoked threat-related jealousy. In addition, women experienced more jealousy than men in response to scenarios in which a partner engaged in potentially extra-dyadic online (but not offline) behaviors. Finally, compared to same-sex heterosexuals, homosexuals, both male and female, responded with less intense jealousy to scenarios describing a partner having sex with someone else. Implications for the treatment of (internet) infidelity are discussed.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)328-336
    Number of pages9
    JournalScandinavian Journal of Psychology
    Volume54
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Aug-2013

    Keywords

    • Jealousy
    • offline
    • online
    • infidelity
    • sexual orientation
    • RIVAL CHARACTERISTICS
    • INTERNET INFIDELITY
    • EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE
    • PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS
    • ROMANTIC JEALOUSY
    • MEN
    • HETEROSEXUALS
    • HOMOSEXUALS
    • PERSONALITY
    • PSYCHOLOGY

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