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INTRODUCTION

1.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT To study the difference in the level of relational jealousy among working and non working women. 1.2 INTRODUCTION

1.2.1 Relational jealousy

Relational jealousy is here defined as a complex of thoughts, feelings, and actions which follow threats to self-esteem and/or threats to the existence or quality of the relationship, when those threats are generated by the perception of a real or potential attraction between one's partner and a (perhaps imaginary) rival." (White, 1981, p. 24)White, G.L. (1981). OR Relational Jealousy is any aversive reaction that occurs as the result of a partner's extradyadic relationship that is real, imagined, or considered likely to occur." (Bringle & Buunk, 1991, page 135 OR Relational Jealousy is triggered by the threat of separation from, or loss of, a romantic partner, when that threat is attributed to the possibility of the partner's romantic interest in another person." (Sharpteen & Kirkpatrick, 1997, page 628) Jealousy is a secondary emotion and typically refers to the negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something that the person values, particularly in reference to a human connection. Jealousy often

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consists of a combination of presenting emotions such as anger, sadness, and disgust. It is not to be confused with envy. OR Jealousy involves an entire emotional episode including a complex narrative the circumstances that lead up to jealousy , jealousy itself as emotion any attempt at self regulation subsequent actions and event resolutions of the episode . (Parrott ,2001. P306)

1.2.2 Sign of relational Jealousy

The experience of jealousy involves:
y y y y y y

Fear of loss Suspicion or anger about betrayal Low self-esteem and sadness over loss Uncertainty and loneliness Fear of losing an important person to an attractive other Distrust

It shows up when one person or both people in the relationship are very insecure in their relationship or in life. Jealous feelings come up with a partner, or others, whose actions haven't warranted it. People do not express jealousy through a single emotion or a single behavior. They instead express jealousy through diverse emotions and behaviors, which makes it difficult to form a scientific definition of jealousy.

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1.2.3 TYPES OF JEALOUSY

Jealousy can be divided into five categories. Family Jealousy Family jealousy most commonly occurs between siblings, but can occur between cousins or any other relative. This type of jealousy is usually borne out by too much attention being given to one person over another. Friend Jealousy Jealousy among friends is one of the most commonly outspoken types of jealousy. Romantic Jealousy Romantic jealousy is commonly defined as the jealousy a person feels toward his partner (often associated with suspicions of disloyalty), which often leads to self-consciousness and insecurity. Power Jealousy Power jealousy, also known as work jealousy, refers to the jealousy that arises between coworkers; for example, often following a promotion or any other workplace success that is not awarded to every employee. Normal Jealousy Normal jealousy is the most common form of jealousy, which usually amounts to little more than someone's "heart dropping" when they see something they wish for.

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Normal jealousy is often easy to conceal and cope with, but can easily make a person self-conscious and branch off into other types of jealousy.

1.2.4 Causes of relational jealousy

Jealousy arises in 'loving' relationships because of three factors: y comparison y competition y the fear of being replaced This bitter feeling of hurt and hostility we call "jealousy" can become one of the most powerful obsessions of human life. And yet, this emotion is a social productwith deep cultural roots.

1.2.5 EFFECTS OF JEALOUSY ON RELATIONALSHIP

i. Paranoia Paranoia will usually occur when one allow oneself to get too involved with his/her feelings of jealousy. Every time his/her mate walks out the door, he/she will find herself checking up on him/her. Every chance he/she get, he/she will check his/her phone or computer for anything that tells you if he/she is really up to something. If he/she don't find things, you figure he/she must just be really good at hiding his/her secrets instead of accepting the fact that he/she isn't doing anything wrong. ii. Fighting

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Jealousy creates an atmosphere that inevitably leads to fighting with your partner. He/she will be angry that you don't trust him/her. You will be angry because you don't believe him/her. You eventually fight so much over it that you don't find time for anything else. It consumes your life.

iii. Inaccurate accusations Finding yourself in a situation that you feel jealous can cause you to falsely accuse your mate. This begins to happen more and more often until up with a completely different you end

problem. Accusing someone of something

that you don't have accurate information for is deadly for the relationship.

iv. Break-ups If you can't find a way to get over the jealousy issues, you will probably eventually find yourself alone. People who are consistently accused of doing something wrong when they really aren't eventually feel completely pushed away from the accuser. It won't matter how much the accused loves the accuser, there is only so much that one person can take. v) Illness Jealousy can cause you to become ill. It is known that stress and nerves causes illness. It can cause nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea and many other physical problems. These issues could lead to more serious illness. This can lead to more tension in the relationship than already exists.

The negative effects of jealousy on relationships aren't worth the cost. If you find that you are allowing jealousy to run your life, it may be time to seek counseling to find out what the underlying cause it. It could be from a previous

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relationship, how you were raised or it could be because the relationship isn't going well. Taking steps now can prevent jealousy from destroying your life.

1.2.6 PREVENTION OF RELATIONAL JEALOUSY

If we are loved for the unique persons we are becoming, Then comparison with rivals diminishes. And when we are no longer in competition with other women or men, we become less vulnerable to feeling jealous. If we become irreplaceable in our relationships, then jealousy disappears. Thus the basic way to prevent jealousy is to become unique and irreplaceable persons. And becoming more Authentic may be the best way to transcend the threat of being replaced by potential rival.

Self-esteem and attachment theory "Jealousy is conceptualized as a cognitive, emotional, and behavioral response to a relationship threat. In the case of sexual jealousy, this threat emanates from knowing or suspecting that one's partner has had (or desires to have) sexual activity with a third party. In the case of emotional jealousy, an individual feels threatened by her or his partner's emotional involvement with and/or love for a third party." (Guerrero, Spitzberg, & Yoshimura, 2004, page 311. These statements of jealousy share two basic themes. First, all the definitions imply a triad composed of a jealous individual, a partner, and a perception of a third party or rival. Second, all the definitions describe jealousy as a reaction to

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a perceived threat to the relationship between two people, or a dyad. Jealous reactions typically involve aversive emotions and/or behaviors that are assumed to be protective for their attachment relationships. These themes form the essential meaning of jealousy in most scientific studies.

1.4. Literature review

A research was conducted by Don J.; Kirkpatrick, Lee A in 1997 at the University of Georgia to study the degree of romantic jealousy among males and females. The sample comprised of 110 subjects (both males and females). The result of the present study indicated that the degree of romantic jealousy is greater among females as compared to males.

A research was conducted by bringle and buunk in 1991 at the university of Bradford to study the difference in level of relational jealousy among working and non working women . The sample comprised of 120 Subjects (working and non working women). The result of present study indicated that the level of relational jealousy is greater in working as compared to non working.

A study was conducted by the Sharpteen and Kirkpatrick in 1997 at brunel university.The main objective of the study was to study the difference in the level of romantic jealousy among male and females . the study was conducted on 100 males and females master students, they found that romantic jaleaousy is greater in females as compared to males.
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A study was conducted by the Ficara & Mongeau in 2000 at Western Carolina University. The main objective of the study was to study the difference in the level of romantic jealousy and relational satisfaction among males and females. The study was conducted on 150 males and females graduate students. They found that romantic jealousy is greater in females and relational satisfaction is very low as compared to males.

A study was conducted by Jeremy w.dugosh university of TEXAS at Arlington in 2002 to study the relational jealousy among working and non working women . The The study was conducted on 136 working and non working women . they found that relational jealousy is more in working than non working women .