Jealousy and Partner's Perceived Motives for Attraction to a Rival

Partners in 150 romantic couples (predominantly white college students) rated the importance to partner of four motives that might lead to partner's romantic involvement with a third person. The strength of motives (Sexual Variety, Rival Attractions, Dissatisfaction, Commitment) perceived in partner varied as a function of gender and relative involvement in the relationship. For both sexes, perception of dissatisfaction and sexual variety as motives predicted to indicators of romantic jealousy, while perception of rival's attractions as a motive predicted to female jealousy. The perception of partner's greater desire for commitment as a motive was not related to jealousy. The data are discussed in relation to sex roles and the types of threats that trigger romantic jealousy.