Romantic jealousy as a social comparison process

The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the relationship between romantic jealousy and social comparison. Self-evaluation maintenance model and social comparison theory were used as a framework for jealousy behaviors. Thirty-eight highly jealous individuals were interviewed and asked to describe a personal jealousy-provoking experience. It was expected that participants who experience romantic jealousy will be likely to use social comparison when describing first person jealousy-provoking scenarios. A qualitative analysis using multiple readings of transcripts was used to identify emergent themes. Four major themes linked to social comparison were found. The theme Social Comparison can be separated into three subthemes General Social Comparison, Emotional Social Comparison and Social Comparison to a Stereotype. Social Comparison of the Relationship explained the social comparison that takes place when the individual compares the current romantic relationship to that of the relationship between the partner and the rival. Derogation of the Rival explained the repair attempt made when an individual fails in comparison to a rival. The final theme of Basking in the Glory of a Close Other is an important way for an individual to maintain a positive self-evaluation when comparing to a rival. These finding suggest that individuals will use social comparison when expressing romantic jealousy-inducing experiences in order to maintain a positive self-evaluation.