Understanding the role of uncertainty in jealousy experience and expression

Abstract

Much of the research on romantic jealousy has failed to provide an explanatory mechanism and has ignored the difference between the experience and expression of that emotion. We address these concerns by adopting the construct of uncertainty, and related theoretical work, as an explanatory framework for predicting jealousy experience and expression in romantic relationships. Our results confirm the value of uncertainty for understanding jealousy, highlight the importance of differentiating jealousy experience from expression, and corroborate recent evidence showing a preference in relationships for indirectness under conditions of uncertainty. Implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the respective roles of self‐presentation and uncertainty in relationships.