Journal of Cultural and Evolutionary Psychology
Volume/Issue:
Volume 2: Issue 3-4
Psychological Gender Mediates Sex Differences in Jealousy
Authors:
Gerd Bohner Social Psychology at the University of Bielefeld Please ask the editor of the journal.

Search for other papers by Gerd Bohner in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
and
Michaela Wänke University of Basel Switzerland

Search for other papers by Michaela Wänke in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Pages:
213–229
Online Publication Date:
22 Jul 2005
Publication Date:
01 Nov 2004
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/jcep.2.2004.3-4.3
Keywords:
gender differences; gender differences; evolutionary psychology; jealousy; biosocial model; femininity; masculinity
Restricted access

The authors argue that, based on a biosocial model proposed by Wood and Eagly (2002), sex differences in reactions to sexual versus emotional infidelity should be mediated via gender-role related traits, whereas based on the assumption of jealousy as a specific innate module (JSIM; Buss et al. 1992), such mediation would not be predicted. In a survey study, 646 British adults reported whether sexual or emotional infidelity of an intimate partner would distress them more, and completed masculinity (M) and femininity (F) scales. Replicating previous work, females reported greater distress than males at emotional (vs. sexual) infidelity. Importantly, this sex difference was partially mediated by both M and F, which supports the biosocial model. However, biological sex remained a significant predictor even after M and F had been controlled for, suggesting that JSIM may explain part of the variance in the observed sex difference.

  • Bem, S. L. (1981): Gender schema theory: A cognitive account of sex typing. Psychological Review, 88, 354-364.

    'Gender schema theory: A cognitive account of sex typing. ' () 88 Psychological Review : 354 -364 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Bohner, G. and Wänke, M. (2004): Priming of AIDS and reactions to infidelity: Are sex differences in jealousy context-dependent? Zeitschrift für Sozialpsychologie, 35, 107-114.

    'Priming of AIDS and reactions to infidelity: Are sex differences in jealousy context-dependent? ' () 35 Zeitschrift für Sozialpsychologie : 107 -114 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Buss, D. (2000): The Dangerous Passion: Why Jealousy is as Necessary as Love and Sex. New York: Free Press.

    The Dangerous Passion: Why Jealousy is as Necessary as Love and Sex , ().

  • Buss, D. M., Larsen, R. J., Westen, D. and Semmelroth, J. (1992): Sex differences in jealousy: Evolution, physiology, and psychology. Psychological Science, 3, 251-255.

    'Sex differences in jealousy: Evolution, physiology, and psychology. ' () 3 Psychological Science : 251 -255 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Buss, D. M., Shackelford, T. K., Kirkpatrick, L. A., Choe, J. C., Lim, H. K., Hasegawa, M., Hasegawa, T. and Bennett, K. (1999): Jealousy and the nature of beliefs about infidelity: Tests of competing hypotheses about sex differences in the United States, Korea and Japan. Personal Relationships, 6, 125-150.

    'Jealousy and the nature of beliefs about infidelity: Tests of competing hypotheses about sex differences in the United States, Korea and Japan. ' () 6 Personal Relationships : 125 -150 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Buunk, B. P., Angleitner, A., Oubaid, V. and Buss, D. M. (1996): Sex differences in jealousy in evolutionary and cultural perspective: Tests from The Netherlands, Germany, and the United States. Psychological Science, 7, 359-363.

    'Sex differences in jealousy in evolutionary and cultural perspective: Tests from The Netherlands, Germany, and the United States. ' () 7 Psychological Science : 359 -363 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Darwin, C. (1998): The Origin of Species. Ware, UK: Wordsworth Editions. [Original work published in 1859.]

    The Origin of Species , ().

  • DeSteno, D. A., Bartlett, M. Y., Braverman, J. and Salovey, P. (2002): Sex differences in jealousy: Evolutionary mechanism or artifact of measurement? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83, 1103-1116.

    'Sex differences in jealousy: Evolutionary mechanism or artifact of measurement? ' () 83 Journal of Personality and Social Psychology : 1103 -1116 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Harris, C. R.(2002): Sexual and romantic jealousy in heterosexual and homosexual adults. Psychological Science, 13, 7-12.

    'Sexual and romantic jealousy in heterosexual and homosexual adults. ' () 13 Psychological Science : 7 -12 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Harris, C. R. (2003): A review of sex differences in sexual jealousy, including self-report data, psychophysiological responses, interpersonal violence, and morbid jealousy. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 7, 102-128.

    'A review of sex differences in sexual jealousy, including self-report data, psychophysiological responses, interpersonal violence, and morbid jealousy. ' () 7 Personality and Social Psychology Review : 102 -128 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Harris, C. R. and Christenfeld, N. (1996): Gender, jealousy, and reason. Psychological Science, 7, 364-366.

    'Gender, jealousy, and reason. ' () 7 Psychological Science : 364 -366 .

  • Pietrzak, R. H., Laird, J. D., Stevens, D. A. and 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: A coordinated study of forced-choice, continuous rating scale, and physiological responses on the same subjects. ' () 23 Evolution and Human Behavior : 83 -94 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • DeSteno, D. A. and Salovey, P. (1996): Evolutionary origins of sex differences in jealousy? Questioning the "fitness" of the model. Psychological Science, 7, 367-372.

    'Evolutionary origins of sex differences in jealousy? Questioning the "fitness" of the model. ' () 7 Psychological Science : 367 -372 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Dukstra, P., Groothof, H., Poel, G., Laverman, T., Schrier, M. and Buunk, B. (2001): Sex differences in the events that elicit jealousy in homosexuals. Personal Relationships, 8, 41-54.

    'Sex differences in the events that elicit jealousy in homosexuals. ' () 8 Personal Relationships : 41 -54 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Fiedler, K. and Wänke, M. (in press): On the vicissitudes of cultural and evolutionary approaches to social cognition: The case of meta-cognitive myopia. Journal of Cultural and Evolutionary Psychology, this issue.

    'On the vicissitudes of cultural and evolutionary approaches to social cognition: The case of meta-cognitive myopia ' () Journal of Cultural and Evolutionary Psychology .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Sagarin, B. J., Becker, D. V., Guadagno, R. E., Nicastle, L. D. and Millevoi, A. (2003): Sex differences (and similarities) in jealousy: The moderating influence of infidelity experience and sexual orientation of the infidelity. Evolution and Human Behavior, 24, 17-23.

    'Sex differences (and similarities) in jealousy: The moderating influence of infidelity experience and sexual orientation of the infidelity. ' () 24 Evolution and Human Behavior : 17 -23 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Schützwohl, A. and Koch, S. (in press): Sex differences in jealousy: The recall of cues to sexual and emotional infidelity in adaptively more and less threatening context conditions. Evolution and Human Behavior.

    'Sex differences in jealousy: The recall of cues to sexual and emotional infidelity in adaptively more and less threatening context conditions ' () Evolution and Human Behavior .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Sheets, V. and Wolfe, M. (2001): Sexual jealousy in heterosexuals, lesbians, and gays. Sex Roles, 44, 255-276.

    'Sexual jealousy in heterosexuals, lesbians, and gays. ' () 44 Sex Roles : 255 -276 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Spence, J. T., Helmreich, R. and Stapp, J. (1974): The Personal Attributes Questionnaire: A measure of sex role stereotypes and masculinity-femininity. Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 4, 43-44.

    'The Personal Attributes Questionnaire: A measure of sex role stereotypes and masculinity-femininity. ' () 4 Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology : 43 -44 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Tooby, J. and Cosmides, L. (1992): The psychological functions of culture. In J. Barkow, L. Cosmides and J. Tooby (eds): The Adapted Mind: Evolutionary Ppsychology and the Generation of Culture. New York: Oxford University Press, 19-136.

    The Adapted Mind: Evolutionary Ppsychology and the Generation of Culture , () 19 -136 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Voracek, M. (2001): Marital status as a candidate moderator variable of male-female differences in sexual jealousy. Psychological Reports, 88, 553-566.

    'Marital status as a candidate moderator variable of male-female differences in sexual jealousy. ' () 88 Psychological Reports : 553 -566 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Wiederman, M. W. and Allgeier, E. R. (1993): Gender differences in sexual jealousy: Adaptionist or social learning explanation? Ethology and Sociobiology, 14, 115-140.

    'Gender differences in sexual jealousy: Adaptionist or social learning explanation? ' () 14 Ethology and Sociobiology : 115 -140 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Wilson, M. and Daly, M. (1992): The man who mistook his wife for a chattel. In J. Barkow, L. Cosmides and J. Tooby (eds): The Adapted Mind: Evolutionary Psychology and the Generation of Culture. New York: Oxford University Press, 289-322.

    The Adapted Mind: Evolutionary Psychology and the Generation of Culture , () 289 -322 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Wood, W. and Eagly, A. H. (2002): A cross-cultural analysis of the behavior of women and men: Implications for the origins of sex differences. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 699-727.

    'A cross-cultural analysis of the behavior of women and men: Implications for the origins of sex differences. ' () 129 Psychological Bulletin : 699 -727 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Baron, R. M. and Kenny, D. A. (1986): The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173-1182.

    'The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. ' () 51 Journal of Personality and Social Psychology : 1173 -1182 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Bem, S. L. (1974): The measurement of psychological androgyny. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42, 155-162.

    'The measurement of psychological androgyny. ' () 42 Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology : 155 -162 .

    • Search Google Scholar
  • Collapse
  • Expand
Cover Journal of Cultural and Evolutionary Psychology
Journal of Cultural and Evolutionary Psychology
Print ISSN:
1589-7397
Online ISSN:
1589-5254

Journal of Cultural and Evolutionary Psychology
Language English
Size  
Year of
Foundation		 2003
Publication
Programme		 changed title
Volumes
per Year		  
Issues
per Year		  
Founder Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 1589-5254 (Print)
ISSN 1589-7397 (Online)

Monthly Content Usage

Abstract Views Full Text Views PDF Downloads
Oct 2024 119 0 0
Nov 2024 82 0 0
Dec 2024 33 0 0
Jan 2025 55 0 0
Feb 2025 64 0 0
Mar 2025 74 0 0
Apr 2025 0 0 0