Coping with the green‐eyed monster: Conceptualizing and measuring communicative responses to romantic jealousy

TLDR

Communicative responses to jealousy serve to reduce uncertainty, maintain or repair relationships, and help the jealous individual preserve face and self‑esteem. The studies aim to conceptualize and measure jealousy‑related communicative responses that fulfill these functions, and to develop reliable, valid scales for them. Study 1 used a descriptive qualitative analysis of respondents’ responses, while Studies 2 and 3 created and tested scales for six interactive and five general response types. The analysis yielded 12 superordinate categories and 67 tactics, and confirmatory factor analyses showed preliminary validity of the newly developed scales.

Abstract

Communicative responses to jealousy perform critical functions in interpersonal relationships: They can reduce uncertainty, help maintain or repair relationships, and aid the jealous person in saving face and restoring self‐esteem. The three studies reported herein concentrate on conceptualizing and measuring communicative responses to jealousy that are relevant to these functions. Study 1 is a descriptive, qualitative analysis of respondents' communicative responses to jealousy. Twelve superordinate categories and 67 tactics were found. Studies 2 and 3 focus on finding reliable and valid measures representing the various responses found in Study 1. Measures for six types of interactive responses (integrative communication, distributive communication, active distancing, general avoidance/denial, expression of negative affect, and violent communication/threats) and five types of general responses (surveillance/restriction, compensatory restoration, manipulation attempts, rival contact, and violent behavior) were developed. Associations between these jealousy response scales and previous jealousy measures, and results from confirmatory factor analyses, provide preliminary evidence for the validity of these scales.