Definition
An episodic response triggered by a threat to an exclusive bond, organizing vigilance, guarding, and actions to restore exclusivity.
Mechanism
Attachment-exclusivity monitor detects rival threat; guarding and reassurance-seeking systems activate to protect the bond.
Trigger–Appraisal–Function
• Trigger: Threat to relationship exclusivity (partner/ally/valued bond).
• Appraisal: “I may lose my position/bond to a rival.”
• Function: Guard the bond and restore exclusivity/security.
• Appraisal: “I may lose my position/bond to a rival.”
• Function: Guard the bond and restore exclusivity/security.
Observable Output
• Vigilance and checking; guarding behaviors; reassurance seeking.
• Approach toward partner and/or rival; confront or negotiate boundaries.
• Attention to rival cues and partner signals; narrowed social focus.
• Somatic: arousal, stomach-drop, agitation.
• Approach toward partner and/or rival; confront or negotiate boundaries.
• Attention to rival cues and partner signals; narrowed social focus.
• Somatic: arousal, stomach-drop, agitation.
Episode Profile
Onset: minutes. Peak: builds with evidence; spikes with clear rival cue. Duration: minutes–hours. Recovery: eases with reassurance, boundary clarity, or reduced threat; may leave suspicion bias. KEY METRIC: checking/guarding behaviors; boundary negotiations.
Dysregulation Risk
Compulsive checking and escalation; misinterpretation under uncertainty; controlling behavior.
Change Potential
Regulation Trainability = Medium. Susceptibility Shift = Medium (attachment security, environment ambiguity).
Empirical Anchor
Jealousy as attachment-guarding (Buss, 2000); romantic jealousy (DeSteno & Salovey, 1996).
Citation
APA
Human Elements System. (2026). Jealousy (HES Passport E026, v2.0). hestable.com. https://hestable.com/passport/E026
BibTeX
@misc{hes_E026, author = {{Human Elements System}}, title = {{Jealousy}}, year = {2026}, note = {HES Passport E026, v2.0}, howpublished = {\url{https://hestable.com/passport/E026}} }
HES passports describe psychologically researched elements within the Human Elements System. This is a conceptual framework — not a diagnostic tool, clinical reference, or therapeutic guideline.