What is to know about Pathological Jealousy

 

What is to know about Pathological Jealousy

Key words: Pathological jealousy examples, Pathological jealousy signs, Pathological jealousy causes, Obsessive jealousy in relationships, Pathological jealousy treatment, Morbid jealousy

Ambreen thought that her boyfriend loved her very much, she soon realized that he had a problem. He distrusted everything about her, he began by forbidding her to wear certain clothes of hers, he separated her from her friends, he made her feel guilty about her by telling her she was unfaithful to him. What seemed like a caring man turned into torture.

This story is repeated in thousands of cases with different protagonists. Pathological jealousy, when jealousy ceases to be something isolated and becomes an obsession.

 

“NORMAL” JEALOUSY VS PATHOLOGICAL JEALOUSY

The common jealousy that can be felt towards the partner, siblings or people in the environment are based on real events, they are not imaginary. Normal jealousy comes from a concern for the possible loss of a loved one or discomfort at thinking that this person has a relationship with another third party.

If a man sees his partner hugging another man, it is logical that he could become jealous, or if a woman saw the same thing. Normal jealousy comes from a feeling of disappointment and distrust, if the person has found out something that hurts, a reaction of jealousy is normal. This type of jealousy is not pathological, it is a temporary emotional reaction.

 

Then there is pathological jealousy. They have several clear features.

 

They are not based on something real; the jealous person creates a script in his head, it does not matter his partner tells him that he did nothing, the jealous person will believe his own speculations more than the word of this other person. That is, they are delusions, the pathological jealous person can see things where there is nothing.

The pathologically jealous person can harass her partner by forbidding her to wear certain clothes, following her out of the house, separating her from her group of friends. Ultimately instead of a partner she becomes a prisoner. She is at the mercy of someone who can reach violence in certain cases.

 

Behind pathological jealousy there is insecurity, self-pity, depression. This type of behavior usually ends the relationship.

 

PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND DIAGNOSIS

Morbid jealousy is associated with four characteristics according to Mullen (1990)

1- The person previously suffers from a mental disorder

2- The disease underlies or has been triggered by jealousy

3- Pathological jealousy is closely related to the disease or disorder suffered by the person.

4- Jealousy has no basis in reality

✔There are many authors who equate the emotions of pathological jealousy with delusions. A delusion is an erroneous interpretation of reality. Based on certain clues, the person "creates a movie" and believes it is true.

In the so-called jealousy delusion, the person actually believes that he is being betrayed. They become vigilant, distrustful, unpredictable. They look everywhere for clues and come to the wrong conclusions. They are even capable of altering their memories to confirm their suspicions.