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Jealousy can be defined as the attitude and emotion felt when it is believed that another person is superior to us or that a loved one is interested in someone else (Enç, 1974). Jealousy, in its essence, includes love and commitment, and therefore, possessing another individual who has an important place in the life of the individual. Jealousy, which is often confused with envy and envy, is actually another concept beyond these two concepts. Envy is more like approaching an individual or an object with envy, while envy is an envy, while jealousy is aiming to keep a possessed person away from another person.
Jealousy, which can be considered as a normal and humane situation up to a certain level, can lead to pathological disorders as a result of containing obsessions and similar situations. Jealousy, which many theorists include in their theories, plays an important role in Sigmund Freud’s theory. Especially penis envy, Elektra and Oedipus complexes are very important in terms of psychoanalytic theory.
1. PHYSIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF Jealousy
Jealousy is closely related to hormonal balances. On the other hand, hereditary and biological factors have an important place in jealousy. For example, the level of jealousy of the individual is high in some periods of childhood and throughout adolescence, in which egocentrism has an important place. Because in such periods, the expectation of respect for the individual’s self, age and family relations in childhood, and expectations for the future in the relationship with the opposite sex in adolescence are higher than ever. In most individuals, the level of jealousy decreases with age. The main reason for this is marriage. Because the level of jealousy in married individuals is lower than in unmarried individuals. The duration of the relationship is inversely proportional to the level of jealousy. In the event that the time spent in the relationship and the problems encountered in the relationship are resolved, the respect and trust of the individuals involved in the relationship and the other person in the relationship increases (Demirtaş & Donmez, 2006).
1.1. The Neurobiology of Jealousy
The hormone serotonin, which causes depression and anxiety disorder in case of insufficient secretion, plays an important role in the shaping of social behaviors as well as controlling the individual’s emotional state and behavioral activities. This hormone, known as the “happiness hormone” among the people, is not exactly the happiness hormone, but its deficiency causes unhappiness. In a study conducted at the University of Pisa in Italy, blood tests were performed on students who were prone to jealousy, and when the test results were examined, it was noted that the amount of serotonin was low (Marazziti&Rucci&Di Nasso&Masala&Baroni&Rossi&Lucacchini, 2003). Considering this research, it can be said that the serotonin hormone is closely related to the level of jealousy.
The oxytocin hormone, known as the “love hormone” among the people, can also affect the level of jealousy. In another study on animals, it was found that disorders in the oxytocin system lead to consequences such as jealousy and exclusion of others from oneself (Say & Müjdeci, 2016).
dopamine; plays a role in issues such as reward, desire and addiction (Tufan&Yaluğ, 2010). It is possible to talk about the existence of a relationship between jealousy and addiction. Accordingly, disorders in the dopamine hormone system can also affect the level of jealousy.
2. A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF JEIA
Jealousy can be seen biologically in both humans and animals. There is an instinctive jealousy in animals, and in this jealousy, belonging and possession are at the forefront (Alkan, 2013). There are no sociological factors in jealousy in animals. In humans, it is possible to see sociological and psychological factors as a part of jealousy as well as biological factors.
2.1. Types of Attachment in Jealousy
There are two types of jealousy, non-romantic and romantic.
2.1.1. Unromantic Jealousy
2.1.1.1. Sibling Jealousy
Jealousy in the individual can start before the new sibling is born. In fact, the older sibling feeds the younger sibling with a feeling of jealousy, while at the same time feeding love. The basis of this jealousy is Electra or Oedipus complex, which is felt for the elder brother instead of sexuality, namely the father, and forbidden love, that is, the first love for someone of the opposite sex (Samurçay, 1982).
2.1.1.2. Child Parent Jealousy
It is divided into two as the jealousy of the girl to the father and the jealousy of the boy to the mother. Sigmund Freud named the boy’s tendency to adopt the mother and eliminate his father, also using Greek mythology, as the Oedipus complex (Üreten & Mumcu, 2015). Another version of this situation is that the daughter tends to possess the father and eliminate the mother, which is called the Electra complex.
2.1.1.3. Mother-Child Jealousy
It is because the mother is jealous of her child from her husband. Knowing that she is in an unnecessary jealousy, the mother uses reflection from her defense mechanisms and reflects the situation to her child because she is actually jealous of her husband. In addition, he can show more interest in the child by creating an opposite reaction, which is another defense mechanism.
2.1.1.4. Father-Child Jealousy
It is the case of a father being jealous of his wife for his child. The fact that the child is exposed to the mother’s intense attention in the postpartum period makes the father jealous. The mother’s breastfeeding and physical contact may create a feeling of exclusion in the father. In this case, the father may act closer to the child by creating an opposite reaction.
2.1.1.5. Jealousy in Friendship-Work Relationships
It is jealousy arising from the competition with other members of the group due to the individual’s desire to be “the best friend” in the friend environment. This jealousy also includes the idea that students can take the place of the “best student” in the classroom environment, and a close friend can take the place of the individual in the business environment. It can make the individual ambitious and pave the way for him to take an egocentric attitude.
2.1.2. Romantic Jealousy
2.1.2.1. Pathological/Obsessional Jealousy
It is obsessive-level jealousy. The individual questions the unreal situations as if they were real, and these thoughts, which are in the consciousness of the individual, provide negative feedback to the individual in their bilateral relations. Even in proving the reality of the situation, the reason for this level of obsession, in which the individual has non-acceptance-oriented thinking, is the lack of self-confidence of the individual, the daily life and habits of the envied person, and the history of the relationship (Tezcan & Ülkeroğlu, 1995).
2.1.2.2. Jealousy Type Delusional Disorder
The jealousy-type delusional disorder known as Othello syndrome is seen in very few individuals. The individual accuses his spouse of infidelity and has untrue beliefs. The individual maintains these beliefs despite the necessary evidence being presented. Individuals experience following their spouse, anger and depressive symptoms (Tuna, 2018).
CONCLUSION
In this study, we examined the physiological, neurobiological, social and psychological structure of jealousy and why, how and in which situations individuals become jealous. We have seen how people become jealous biologically and sociologically. We examined the formation of jealousy and the congenital reasons why it exists.
We explained which hormones in the brain cause envy with the presence of abnormal conditions in their systems and which hormones these hormones are. Based on this, we tried to explain the link between attachment and jealousy.
We have seen what kind of jealousy problems an individual has in bilateral relations since infancy. From the Oedipus and Elektra complexes to the Othello syndrome, we delved deeper into the causes of jealousy and saw what kind of problems individuals try to solve with which defense mechanisms. We examined the types of jealousy and their reasons, and strengthened such bases with the necessary arguments.
Jealousy is a situation that an individual should not be afraid of. This is also an indication of the individual’s commitment to the other party. Most of the time, the envied individual feels pleasure from being envied. However, it is necessary to prevent jealousy based on pathology. If pathological jealousy causes the individual to exhibit abnormal behaviors and not be able to enjoy his obsessive life. If these pathological jealousies are not shared with the relevant experts and a solution cannot be produced, it will completely destroy the individual’s life. That is why the individual and his environment should become conscious of the behavior and consult experts.
REFERENCES
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