Evolutionary Psychology. Workshop 8: Jealousy.

Learning Outcomes.

At the end of this session you should be able to:

1. Briefly review the evidence and methodology concerning sex differences in jealousy.

2. Carry out a small study concerning possible sex differences in sexual versus emotional jealousy and mate retention tactics.

3. Collate the date from the group and discuss the findings.

Background. Both sexes are upset by a current partner's actual (or

perceived) infidelity. Evolutionary psychologists have argued that male

jealousy is more likely to be triggered by threats of sexual infidelity, while female jealousy is more likely to be triggered by threats of emotional infidelity (Buss, 2000).

According to Pietrzak et al., (2002) the evidence for such assumptions has come from 3 sources:

1. Forced-choice studies: Participants have to select between jealousy-inducing scenarios.

2. Continuous rating scales: Participants rate the extent of their upset to scenarios.

3. Physiological response studies: Physiological variables are monitored while participants imagine

jealousy-invoking situations.

Methodological Problems.

1. Forced-choice studies reveal very different proportions of males and females feeling greater upset to one scenario or another.

2. Continuous rating scale studies actually find little differences between mean ratings of males and females.

3. Physiological studies provide variable data and are often unreplicated.

4. Measures of jealousy are not sufficiently specific to allow for subtle gender differences to be apparent.

5. With self-report items there is the possibility that people respond in a manner that they think is socially desirable.

6. Most studies have used college-age students rather than people in long-term romantic relationships.

Harris (2000), Wiederman & Allgeier(1993)

Pietrzak et al., (2002) Study.

Participants selected an infidelity scenario which would distress them more, provided continuous ratings on the extent of their emotional distress, while physiological variables were being monitored.

73% of males reported greater distress to the sexual infidelity scenario.

96% of females opted for the emotional distress scenario.

Males reported stronger feelings of anger, rage and betrayal while imagining sexual infidelity.

Females reported stronger feelings of anger, anxiety and fear while imagining emotional infidelity.

Males showed greater physiological responses to the sexual infidelity scenario while females showed greater physiological responses to emotional infidelity

Tasks. 1. To assess sex differences in subjective distress to

emotional or sexual infidelity. 2. To assess sex differences in responses to emotional

or sexual infidelity. 3. To assess sex differences in mate retention

behaviours. 4. To assess sex differences in upset about

characteristics of a love-rival.

While you are waiting to input your data try the jealousy questionnaire at:

http://discoveryhealth.queendom.com/access_jealousy.html

Also try typing in ‘sex differences in jealousy’ on the google search engine (http://www.google.com) and see what you get.

Subjective Distress Over Infidelity.

We would predict that males more than females would choose indicators of sexual infidelity as most upsetting. The opposite should be true for females. We found the following (46 m, 50 f):

How would this distress you?

0

20

40

60

80

100

emotion sex once

scenario

% R

epor

ting

Mor

e D

istr

ess male

female

How would this distress you?

0

20

40

60

80

100

in love sex often

scenario

% R

epor

ting

mor

e di

stre

ss male

female

Responses to Infidelity. We would predict that males more than females would be less

likely to forgive a sexual indiscretion and be more likely to end the relationship following a sexual indiscretion. The opposite should be true for females. We found the following (46 m 50 f):

Which would be more difficult to forgive?

0

20

40

60

80

100

sex emotion

scenario

% r

ep

ort

ing

mo

re d

istr

ess

male

female

Which action would lead to a break-up?

0

20

40

60

80

100

sex emotion

scenario

% r

ep

ort

ing

mo

re d

istr

ess

male

female

Mate Retention Behaviours. To retain a mate we may expect males to use resource-based

strategies, and may respond with greater physical aggression. Females may use enhancement of physical appearance and sexual

provision, and may resort more to verbal aggression. We found (23 m, 25 f):

How would you react to the other person?

0

20

40

60

80

100

attack-phy attack-ver

action

% r

ep

ort

ing

male

female

How would you react to your partner?

0

20

40

60

80

100

attack-phy attack-ver

action

% r

ep

ort

ing

male

female

Mate Retention Behaviours continued

How would you keep your partner?

0

20

40

60

80

100

spending sex

action

% r

ep

ort

ing

male

female

Characteristics of a Rival.

Males may be more distressed by status/prestige characteristics in a potential rival.

Females may be more distressed by physical characteristics in a potential rival. We found (23 m, 25 f):

Their new partner is better looking or has a better job

0

20

40

60

80

100

looks job

characteristic

% r

ep

orti

ng

male

female

Characteristics of a Rival continued.

Their new partner is better at sex or has a nicer body

0

20

40

60

80

100

sex body

characteristic

% r

ep

ort

ing

male

female

Their new partner is taller or is younger

0

20

40

60

80

100

taller younger

characteristic

% r

ep

ort

ing

male

female

References.

Buss, D.M. (2000). The Dangerous Passion. New York. The Free Press.

Harris, C.R. (2000). Psychophysiological responses to imagined infidelity: the specific innate modular view of jealousy reconsidered. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78: 1082-1091.

Pietrzak, R.H., Laird, J.D., Stevens, D.A., & Thompson, N.S. (2002). Sex differences in human jealousy. A coordinated study of forced-choice, continuous rating-scale, and physiological responses on the same subjects. Evolution and Human Behaviour, 23: 83-94.

Wiederman, M.W., & Allgeier, E.R. (1993). Gender differences in sexual jealousy: adaptionist or social learning explanation? Ethology and Sociobiology, 14: 115-140