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The sexual imagination hypothesis predicts that gender differences in jealousy emerge from the differences in explicit imagination between men and women. In particular, men strongly respond to partners' sexual infidelity because they can imagine sexual stimuli explicitly. In contrast, women strongly respond to emotional infidelity because they can effortlessly envision emotional infidelity. We hypothesised that higher sexual and romantic imaginations were associated with greater distress over partners' sexual and emotional infidelity, respectively. Participants (226 women and 135 men) answered questions regarding experiences with personal sexual and emotional infidelity and the degree of distress they felt over their partners' sexual and emotional infidelity. They completed the scales for sexual and romantic imaginations. Multiple regression analyses showed that the sexual imagination hypothesis provided a unique explanation for gender differences in jealousy beyond the effects of gender, including relationship experience and experiences with personal sexual and emotional infidelity. Additionally, individuals with relationship experience and experiences with personal sexual and emotional infidelity reported higher sexual and romantic imaginations than those without such experiences. Furthermore, our findings imply that responses to partners' infidelity, considering gender, are more similar than different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Romantic jealousy could be understood as a continuum, from reality‐based, transient and functional jealousy to a more chronic form of jealousy with varying insight, intensity and duration. The latter has some overlaps with obsessive–compulsive disorder (here termed obsessional jealousy). Little is known about the nature of obsessional jealousy and its association with functional impairment, perceived negative consequences (drinking, violence), current and past relationship factors (e.g., length of relationship, being in love, infidelity, previous jealousy) or perceived need for professional support. Methods: Participants were 1076 adults (55% women) who filled in an anonymous survey. Results: Obsessional jealousy, measured with the Obsessional Jealousy Severity Scale, was strongly associated with functional impairment and verbal violence, and more weakly with physical violence and alcohol consumption. Individuals with a history of previous jealousy had more severe symptoms and were more likely to perceive the need for psychological support. Approximately 25% of the sample expressed interest in treatment. Conclusions: The results suggest that there is a group of individuals with impairing levels of obsessional jealousy who have a perceived need for help with their difficulties. More research is needed on the prevalence and clinical characteristics of these individuals. The development of jealousy‐specific psychological models and treatments is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People who are anxiously attached, distrustful and jealous of their partners, and suspect infidelity are more likely to use psychological dating violence. Is this also true for cyber dating abuse perpetration (CDAP)? This study investigated the prevalence of and gender differences in self-reported CDAP and whether trust, anticipated partner infidelity, and jealousy serially mediated the association between anxious attachment and CDAP in a sample of Turkish college students. College students (N = 390) completed the Cyber Dating Violence Inventory, Anxious Attachment subscale of the Experiences in Close Relationship Scale-Short Form, Dyadic Trust Scale, Cognitive Jealousy subscale of the Multidimensional Jealousy Scale, Partners' Intentions Towards Infidelity Scale, and a Demographic Information Form. A total of 67% of the sample used at least one cyber abusive behavior with their partner over the last 6 months. A multiple serial mediation model indicated that greater anxious attachment was related to more dyadic distrust, the anticipation of partner infidelity, and jealousy, and, in turn, to the use of cyber dating abuse. Overall, results show that the prevalence of CDAP is high and that attachment theory offers a promising framework for identifying predictors of CDAP in emerging adults. These findings have implications for research, intervention, and prevention of CDAP by identifying potential risk factors for perpetrating cyber abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]