Sex Differences in Human Jealousy

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 Behavior, 23, 83-94.

By Rachel Anderson & Colleen Burns

Evolutionary psychology research has found…

Male and female jealousy is evoked by different threats!› Males Sexual infidelity› Females Emotional infidelity

Found in many cultures.. A human universal?› U.S., Netherlands, Germany, Korea, Japan, Sweden

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 Behavior, 23, 83-94.

3 ways to study sex differences in human jealousy:

1) Forced-choice studies› Which event is more upsetting?

2) Continuous rating-scales› Report emotional reactions.

3) Physiological responses › Heart rate, electrodermal activity, electromyographic

activity, blood pressure, temperature

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 Behavior, 23, 83-94.

Problems with previous studies…

Harris (2002):› Different studies find different proportions› Only one physiological measure showed sex

differences (Buss et al. 1992)› Attempts to replicate failed to find female

differences between the 2 threat types› Previous studies employ only one method

Opposing theory: sexual infidelity implies emotional infidelity and vice versa.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 Behavior, 23, 83-94.

Sex differences in human jealousy

Current Study Methods: › 47 undergrads (25 female, 22 male)› Use all three measures on each

participant:1. Forced choice2. Continuous rating-scale3. Physiological measures

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 Behavior, 23, 83-94.

Results/FindingsForced Choice:

› 73% of males reported greater distress over sexual infidelity

› 96% of females reported greater distress over emotional infidelity

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 Behavior, 23, 83-94.

Results cont’d..Continuous rating-scale

› Men: greater anger, rage, betrayal : sexual infidelity› Women: greater anger, anxiety, fear : emotional

infidelity

Physiological measures• men: more responsive to sexual• women: more responsive to emotional

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 Behavior, 23, 83-94.

Conclusions: Generalized autonomic arousal is elicited

in response to different types of relationship threats in men and women.› Rage, betrayal male response to sexual

infidelity› Anxiety, fear female response to emotional

infidelity› Corroborates evolutionary theory of sexually

differentiated jealousy response systems!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 Behavior, 23, 83-94.

Critical Review Strengths:

› 1) 3 measures strengthen findings› 2) opens doors to finding specific

mechanism

Weaknesses:› 1) fails to discuss the why question

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 Behavior, 23, 83-94.