Predicting Proclivity for Jealousy from Personality Variables, Ethnicity, and Gender

Romantic jealousy is a common and under researched problem in romantic relationships. It can inspire such undesirable behavior as stalking and domestic abuse, and the stress on both partners caused by jealousy can destroy the very relationship that a partner is jealously protecting. Sources of jealousy differ depending on the gender, ethnicity, and past experiences of the partner, and the culture in which the jealous person lives also dictates the sources of jealousy to some extent. Certain personality traits also affect a person\u27s proclivity to jealousy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the value of various demographic, personality, and ethnicity variables as predictors of romantic jealousy. The study focuses on differences between romantic jealousy in Hispanic and non-Hispanic respondents, as well as the effects of such personality traits as self-esteem, perfectionism, religiosity, and social cynicism on proclivity for romantic jealousy. The information we present in this study will be of use to therapists, especially those working with couples or individuals with social difficulties