Bringing up the Green-Eyed Monster: Conceptualizing and Communicating Jealousy with a Partner Who Has Other Partners

Authors

Valerie Rubinsky, Ohio University - Main CampusFollow

Abstract

This paper presents a qualitative analysis of 423 open-ended survey responses from 141 individuals involved in polyamorous intimate partnerships. Grounded in literature on jealousy and polyamory, this analysis offers a reinforcement and extension of romantic jealousy. Participants described how jealousy is conceptualized and discussed within polyamorous relationships. Conceptualizations of jealousy primarily involved jealousy as an umbrella term for insecurity, possessiveness, or needs not being met. Participants discuss jealousy within the context of partner agreements to add or remove another partner, to explicitly seek validation and acknowledgment, and less frequently meeting negative reactions. Importantly, results indicate that within polyamorous relationships, feelings of jealousy are usually communicated, and for the purpose of seeing affirmation and validation, not with the goal of behavior change.

Keywords

Romantic Jealousy, Polyamory, Relationship Communication, Non-Monogamy

Author Bio(s)

Valerie Rubinsky is a doctoral candidate at Ohio University. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: vr225514@ohio.edu.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Dr. Angela Hosek for advice and support in preparing this manuscript.

Publication Date

6-17-2018

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2018.3297

Recommended APA Citation

Rubinsky, V. (2018). Bringing up the Green-Eyed Monster: Conceptualizing and Communicating Jealousy with a Partner Who Has Other Partners. The Qualitative Report, 23(6), 1441-1455. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2018.3297