Jealousy in romantic relationships from the perspective of male and female

This study examines how jealousy that emerges in romantic relationships is experienced through individual narratives and how these experiences intersect with gender roles. Historically, jealousy has been associated with love, possession, and control; in contemporary discussions, it is reconsidered within the framework of social norms, emotional abuse, and gender-based power relations. The study focuses on how individuals make sense of jealousy, the behavioral patterns through which it is expressed, and how it relates to trust. The research employs the qualitative method of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and draws on in-depth interviews with women and men living in two culturally distinct cities in Turkey (Antalya and Van), representing diverse relationship types. The data were analyzed within the frameworks of Feminist Theory and the Investment Model. The findings indicate that jealousy is a common experience, and that close interactions with third parties play a triggering role. Marked gender differences were observed in the expression of jealousy, and cultural norms—together with individual variables such as age and educational level—were found to significantly shape this experience. In sum, the study demonstrates that jealousy is not merely an individual emotion but a phenomenon that acquires meaning at social and cultural levels, thereby offering an original contribution to the literature.