General partner and relational uncertainty as consequences of another person's jealousy expression

Abstract

Because a relationship between jealousy expression and the experience of uncertainty has been consistently demonstrated, the current project proposes that general partner and relational uncertainty arise in one individual as a reaction to jealousy expression from that individual's partner. Specifically, the amount of uncertainty present after another person expresses jealousy is predicted to differ according to relational type and the way in which the jealousy is expressed. Hypothetical jealousy scenarios involving cross‐sex friends, siblings, dating partners, and negative, neutral, and positive jealousy expression are utilized to test these predictions. Findings reveal that cross‐sex friends are more uncertain than either siblings or daters after another person expresses jealousy. In addition, another person's use of negative affect expression (neutral jealousy expression) is related to greater uncertainty compared with another's use of integrative communication (positive jealousy expression). The importance of considering reactions to another person's jealousy expression is described. Further, implications for uncertainty research are discussed.