EFFECTS OF BEHAVIOR SETTINGS, EXTRADYADIC BEHAVIORS, AND INTERLOPER CHARACTERISTICS ON ROMANTIC JEALOUSY

This study assessed the effects of behavior-setting changes, partners' behavior toward an interloper, and importance of interloper characteristics for romantic jealousy. Participants were 162 individuals in dating relationships. Four jealousy dilemmas were presented that crossed two levels of behavior setting and two levels of partners' extradyadic behavior toward an interloper. Interloper characteristics were also embedded in the dilemmas. A 2 x 2 withinsubjects ANOVA revealed significant variation between behavior settings and extradyadic behaviors. A doubly-multivariate repeated measures MANOVA assessed the importance of interloper characteristics within behavior setting and extradyadic behavior, showing that interloper characteristics do play a role in reported jealousy. Findings are explained in terms of behavior-setting influences, coping appraisals, and self-maintenance evaluations.