Date of Award
4-26-1988
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Scott T. Allison
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the determinants of jealousy in different situations. Specifically, the research extended a study which identified five major categories of jealousy: romantic jealousy, jealousy of others' social acceptance, jealousy of others' undeserved accomplishments, jealousy of others' traits, and jealousy of others' happiness (Baldwin, 1988).
The investigation utilized a questionnaire narrating one scenario for each of the five jealousy provoking situations. Subjects rated the appropriateness of the jealous response in each situation on a scale from 1 to 7 and generated perceived causes for each jealous response. An analysis of variance of the appropriateness ratings indicated a main effect for category. Subjects perceive jealousy over the traits of another, and jealousy of other people's happiness to be the most inappropriate situations in which to experience jealousy. Situations of undeserved accomplishments and romantic jealousy are perceived to be the most natural situations in which to experience jealousy.
An analysis of the perceived causes revealed that in all situations, the jealousy was perceived as being a function of something internal to the person rather than the result of something external.
Recommended Citation
Offerdahl, Margaret L., "Jealousy : an investigation of attribution" (1988). Honors Theses. 661.
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/honors-theses/661