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Sex Differences in Human Jealousy. Pietrzak , R.H., Laird, J.D., Stevens, D.A., 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.
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Sex Differences in Human Jealousy Pietrzak, R.H., Laird, J.D., Stevens, D.A., 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. By Rachel Anderson & Colleen Burns
Evolutionary psychology research has found… • Male and female jealousy is evoked by different threats! • Males Sexual infidelity • Females Emotional infidelity • Found in many cultures.. A human universal? • U.S., Netherlands, Germany, Korea, Japan, Sweden Pietrzak, R.H., Laird, J.D., Stevens, D.A., 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.
3 ways to study sex differences in human jealousy: • 1) Forced-choice studies • Which event is more upsetting? • 2) Continuous rating-scales • Report emotional reactions. • 3) Physiological responses • Heart rate, electrodermal activity, electromyographic activity, blood pressure, temperature Pietrzak, R.H., Laird, J.D., Stevens, D.A., 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.
Problems with previous studies… • Harris (2002): • Different studies find different proportions • Only one physiological measure showed sex differences (Buss et al. 1992) • Attempts to replicate failed to find female differences between the 2 threat types • Previous studies employ only one method Opposing theory: sexual infidelity implies emotional infidelity and vice versa. Pietrzak, R.H., Laird, J.D., Stevens, D.A., 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 • Current Study Methods: • 47 undergrads (25 female, 22 male) • Use all three measures on each participant: • Forced choice • Continuous rating-scale • Physiological measures Pietrzak, R.H., Laird, J.D., Stevens, D.A., 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.
Results/Findings Forced Choice: • 73% of males reported greater distress over sexual infidelity • 96% of females reported greater distress over emotional infidelity Pietrzak, R.H., Laird, J.D., Stevens, D.A., 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.
Results cont’d.. Continuous rating-scale • Men: greater anger, rage, betrayal : sexual infidelity • Women: greater anger, anxiety, fear : emotional infidelity Physiological measures • men: more responsive to sexual • women: more responsive to emotional Pietrzak, R.H., Laird, J.D., Stevens, D.A., 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.
Conclusions: • Generalized autonomic arousal is elicited in response to different types of relationship threats in men and women. • Rage, betrayal male response to sexual infidelity • Anxiety, fear female response to emotional infidelity • Corroborates evolutionary theory of sexually differentiated jealousy response systems! Pietrzak, R.H., Laird, J.D., Stevens, D.A., 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.
Critical Review • Strengths: • 1) 3 measures strengthen findings • 2) opens doors to finding specific mechanism • Weaknesses: • 1) fails to discuss the why question Pietrzak, R.H., Laird, J.D., Stevens, D.A., 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.