Two studies provided support for a model of jealousy based on self-evaluation maintenance (SEM) theory. Participants were presented with a series of rivals for their partners' attentions descriptions of the rivals were designed to vary along dimensions thought to be important to participants' self-definitions. In accord with SEM theory, greater jealousy was reported when the domain of a rival's achievements was also a domain of high self-relevance to the participant. In addition, women, to a greater degree than men, considered the desires of their romantic partners in identifying rivals who evoked jealousy, suggesting sex differences in the impact of relationship partners on domains of self-definition.
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