Sexual jealousy is a powerful emotion that occurs when one partner fears that the other has shared inappropriate physical or emotional intimacies with someone else. It is considered universal for humans and some animals, and may serve evolutionary and sociological purposes. Men and women can experience or react to sexual jealousy differently due to their biological imperatives and socialization factors.
Sexual jealousy is a type of jealousy that often occurs in romantic relationships when one partner fears that the other has shared inappropriate physical or emotional intimacies with one or more people outside the relationship. Sexual jealousy can occur when one partner in a romantic relationship commits sexual infidelity, but it can also occur, and be just as powerful, when one partner suspects the other of emotional infidelity. This type of jealousy is considered universal for all humans, but can also occur in some animal populations, particularly some primate species. Experts believe this jealousy may serve both evolutionary and sociological purposes.
Many consider jealousy to be one of the most powerful human emotions, and sexual jealousy is often considered to be the most powerful form of jealousy. It most often occurs when a person believes that their exclusive rights to a particular sexual or romantic partner have been threatened. People who experience this type of jealousy may live in denial, unable to face the truth about an unfaithful partner. Extreme emotional pain, feelings of betrayal, outrage, fear, and inadequacy often occur alongside sexual jealousy. Violent outbursts and obsessive thoughts and behaviors are considered common effects of the condition.
Experts in evolution and biology often believe that sexual jealousy is, in fact, a biological imperative. According to this theory, jealousy in romantic relationships is part of the mechanism by which humans, and some animals, grant access to the best reproductive partners. Because males and females typically play different roles in the reproductive process, men and women can experience or react to sexual jealousy in very different ways. Men may often be more upset by sexual infidelity in their female partner, as the male biological imperative involves reserving exclusive reproductive rights to a chosen spouse. Women are often more focused on retaining the right to retain a male partner as a protector and caregiver, so they can often be more upset by emotional infidelity from a male partner.
Others believe that this type of jealousy may have sociological roots as well. Some have advanced the theory that sexual jealousy can be used to control female members of society. Some primate species, such as baboons or gorillas, are believed to use it in this way.
Socialization factors can influence how partners react to jealousy in romantic relationships. Women may experience less severe jealousy when a male partner is unfaithful because many women have been socialized to believe that men place no emotional importance on intercourse. Many men have been socialized to believe that women always attach emotional significance to sexual intercourse and therefore may react more strongly to romantic jealousy for this reason.
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