An examination of specialness meaning framework threat in reactive and retroactive romantic jealousy experiences

Abstract

Extant jealousy models explain cases of reactive jealousy, which occurs in response to a partner's unambiguous romantic or sexual involvement with a rival from the present. However, they likely cannot explain cases of retroactive romantic jealousy, which is evoked in response to information about a partner's previous romantic or sexual experiences that occurred before the primary relationship began. Some prior theoretical speculation and research suggest that a sense of specialness may be threatened in jealousy‐evoking situations involving either a partner's current or past romantic activities. The idea that jealousy stems from a threat to expectations of specialness is consistent with a broader model of threat, the meaning maintenance model (MMM). The main purpose of this study was to experimentally test MMM predictions in the context of both reactive and retroactive jealousy alongside of predictions derived from extant jealousy models. The study examined the role of attachment as well. Results indicate expectations of specialness were threatened in experiences of both types of jealousy, and a threat to specialness was the only type of threat perceived for retroactive jealousy. The results also help clarify previous findings regarding attachment and romantic jealousy.