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Loving the Green-Eyed Monster: Development and Exploration of the Jealousy is Good Scale

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Abstract

Despite negative relationship consequences associated with jealousy, it is often romanticized and seen as a sign of passion and investment in romantic relationships. In Study 1, we developed the ten-item Jealousy is Good Scale (JIGS) to assess pro-jealousy attitudes and examined its association with existing constructs among a sample of women. JIGS scores were related to endorsement of traditional romantic beliefs and gender norms. They were also related to desiring a partner displaying jealousy and endorsing traditional norms of masculinity, including violence. In Study 2, the structure of the JIGS was confirmed for both women and men, and there was no difference in the extent to which men and women endorsed pro-jealousy beliefs. JIGS scores were again related to the endorsement of traditional romantic beliefs as well as to sexist beliefs for both men and women. Though seemingly romantic, valuing jealousy may have problematic consequences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Mary Washington, 1301 College Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401-5300, USA

    Lauren P. Hartwell, T. Michele Humphries, Mindy J. Erchull & Miriam Liss

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  1. Lauren P. Hartwell
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  2. T. Michele Humphries
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Correspondence to Mindy J. Erchull.

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Hartwell, L.P., Humphries, T.M., Erchull, M.J. et al. Loving the Green-Eyed Monster: Development and Exploration of the Jealousy is Good Scale. Gend. Issues 32, 245–265 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12147-015-9141-6

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