Hinke A. K. Groothof

Sex differences in jealousy: The case of Internet infidelity:

Studies investigating the events that elicit men’s and women’s jealousy consistently show that men’s jealousy, more than women’s jealousy, is triggered by a mate’s sexual infidelity, and women’s jealousy, more than men’s jealousy, is triggered by a mate’s emotional infidelity. Internet infidelity poses new challenges for modern couples. Therefore, the present study investigated men’s and women’s responses to emotional and sexual infidelity over the Internet. Results from both a student sample (n = 254), and a sample from the general population (n = 483) showed that sex differences in response to Internet infidelity parallels those for offline infidelity. Implications and explanations for this finding, as well as different results between both samples, are discussed.

Jealousy in response to online and offline infidelity: the role of sex and sexual orientation

The goal of the present study was to examine the emotional content and intensity of jealousy in response to different types of infidelity (both online and offline unfaithful partner behaviors) among Dutch heterosexuals (n = 191) and homosexuals (n = 121). Based on previous research (Dijkstra, Barelds & Groothof, 2010), participants were presented with ten jealousy-evoking situations following which the intensity of two different emotional aspects of jealousy was assessed (betrayal/anger and threat). Results showed that scenarios describing a partner having sex with someone else or falling in love with someone else primarily evoked betrayal/anger-related jealousy, whereas scenarios describing an emotional connection between a partner and someone else primarily evoked threat-related jealousy. In addition, women experienced more jealousy than men in response to scenarios in which a partner engaged in potentially extra-dyadic online (but not offline) behaviors. Finally, compared to same-sex heterosexuals, homosexuals, both male and female, responded with less intense jealousy to scenarios describing a partner having sex with someone else. Implications for the treatment of (internet) infidelity are discussed.

An inventory and update of jealousy-evoking partner behaviours in modern society.

The goal of the present study was to identify the most important jealousy-evoking partner behaviours and to examine the extent to which these behaviours evoke jealousy. Based on the literature, a questionnaire was constructed containing 42 jealousy-evoking partner behaviours, including a partners extra-dyadic involvement with someone else by means of modern communication devices, such as the Internet. A second study examined the extent to which undergraduates and a community sample experienced jealousy in response to these partner behaviours. Results showed that explicit unfaithful behaviours evoked most feelings of jealousy, followed by a partners emotional or romantic involvement with someone else by means of modern communication devices. In general, older individuals responded with less jealousy in response to a partners unfaithful and suspicious behaviours. Clinical implications are discussed.

Partner Preferences of the Intellectually Gifted

To date, hardly anything is known about the partner preferences of the intellectually gifted. The present study therefore examined the extent to which 354 gifted individuals judged 17 characteristics to be important in a (potential) partner and compared these ratings with those obtained from a community sample (n = 554). Among other things, it was expected that, among the gifted, a (potential) partners high intelligence would be judged to be more important than among participants from the general community. It was also expected that single gifted individuals would judge a potential partners high intelligence to be more important than gifted individuals involved in intimate relationships. Most of our predictions were supported, and results are discussed.

Empathy in intimate relationships: The role of positive illusions

Previous studies have shown empathy to be an important aspect of a high quality intimate relationship. Likewise, positive illusions about a partners characteristics have been shown to contribute to relationship quality. The present study connects these issues by examining the degree to which individuals hold positive illusions about a partners level of empathy, and the extent to which these positive illusions are related to relationship quality and adjustment in a sample of 55 couples. Results showed that positive illusions concerning a partners level of empathy were only held by women. In addition, peoples evaluation of relationship quality and adjustment was consistently related to both their own and their partners positive empathy illusions. Finally, an interaction effect was found between participant sex and the partner effect of positive empathy illusions: the illusions held by the partner (only for men) were related to relationship quality. Results and implications for theory and relationship counseling are discussed.