Gender differences in the jealousy-evoking effect of rival characteristics: A study in Spain and Argentina

Abstract

This study examines gender differences in the jealousy-evoking nature of rival characteristicsin two Spanish-speaking countries (Argentina and Spain). A total of 388 Spanish students and444 Argentinean students participated in the study. First, the cross-cultural validity of a Dutchscale containing 56 rival characteristics was examined. A factor analysis distinguished fourdimensions (i.e., social power and dominance, physical attractiveness, physical dominance, andsocial-communal attributes). After the analysis, the final scale contained in total 24 items. Resultsshowed that in Argentina and Spain combined, men experienced more jealousy than womenwhen their rival was more physically dominant. In contrast, women experienced more jealousythan men when their rival was more physically attractive, had more social-communal attributes,and had more social power and dominance. In both genders, social-communal attributes wasthe most jealousy-evoking characteristic, followed by physical attractiveness in women and bysocial power and dominance in men. In addition, in Argentinean participants but not in Spanishparticipants, those high in social comparison orientation found the rival characteristics morejealousy evoking. These results provide strong support for the evolutionary hypothesis of genderdifferences in the rival characteristics that may evoke jealousy. Small size effect differences werefound between the two countries and only regarding social-communal attributes.