Electrodermal Responses and Assessments of Jealousy During Preovulatory and Menstrual Phase of Cycle

Dosadašnja istraživanja pokazala su veću ljubomoru žena na emocionalnu, u odnosu na seksualnu nevjeru partnera. Razlike u ljubomori na dvije vrste nevjere mogle bi ovisiti o fazi menstrualnog ciklusa. Polazeći od evolucijskih postavki, valja očekivati veći stupanj ljubomore na emocionalnu nevjeru partnera u preovulatornoj fazi, kada je začeće moguće, te veći stupanj ljubomore na seksualnu nevjeru u menstrualnoj fazi ciklusa. Polazeći od navedenoga, cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati postoje li razlike u elektrodermalnim reakcijama (EDR) i procjenama ljubomore u situacijama zamišljanja scenarija emocionalne i seksualne nevjere partnera tijekom menstrualne i preovulatorne faze. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 26 sudionica regularnoga menstrualnog ciklusa. Thayerova skala za procjenu aktivacije AD-ACL uzeta je za određivanje opće i visoke aktivacije. EDR je registriran u kontrolnoj situaciji i u situacijama zamišljanja dviju nevjera te su sudionice procjenjivale stupanj ljubomore tijekom trinaestoga i drugoga dana ciklusa. Rezultati su pokazali više procjene opće aktivacije i veći EDR u preovulatornoj fazi. Nisu nađene razlike u EDR-u prilikom zamišljanja scenarija seksualne i emocionalne nevjere. Procjene emocionalne ljubomore bile su više u preovulatornoj fazi, a procjene seksualne ljubomore u menstrualnoj fazi.Previous studies have shown higher jealousy in women\u27s reaction to partner\u27s emotional, compared to sexual infidelity. Differences in jealousy over two infidelity types might change during the menstrual cycle. According to the evolutionary hypothesis, a greater jealousy over partner\u27s emotional infidelity was expected in the preovulatory phase when conception is possible and greater jealousy over sexual infidelity in the menstrual phase. Following this, the aim of the study was to investigate the differences in electrodermal reactions (EDR) and assessments of jealousy over partner\u27s emotional and sexual infidelity during the menstrual and preovulatory phase. A group of 26 female participants with a regular menstrual cycle took part in the study during the 13th and the 2nd day of the menstrual cycle. EDR were registered in the control situation and in situations of imagining two infidelity types. Participants also assessed the intensity of jealousy on a five-point scale. General activation and EDR were higher in the preovulatory phase. No differences in EDR between imagining the partner\u27s sexual and emotional infidelity were obtained. Emotional jealousy was estimated higher during the preovulatory phase, while sexual jealousy was higher during the menstrual phase