Is jealousy a sign of love or insecurity?

[Anonymous]

I see it more as a sign of love 💖

[Aethereal]

In thinking of my answer, I realized that a proper one would require a whole book. Since that's not possible here, I'll try and summarize. The general conclusion though (TL;DR) is that jealousy is not a sign of insecurity, but an integral part of it. Insecurity itself, may, or may not have positive aspects. Jealousy however, is also very much a sign of love.

People are different from each other in many subtle and interesting ways. You can determine their general opinion on a subject by understanding their specific opinions on other subjects. For example:

- How do you personally view insecurity?
There are people who will see any insecurity (or feelings of insecurity) whatsoever as bad. Others will see positive aspects to feeling insecure. A tendency to see jealousy as a sign of insecurity or love is dependent on how you view/define insecurity.

- What is the opposite of Jealousy?
Read this question, and remember the first word that came into your head as an answer. What was it? was the first word in your head something along the lines of "confidence" or "trust"? or was it something along the lines of "apathy" or "disinterest"? How one views the opposite of jealousy can determine how positively or negatively they view jealousy itself.

- How do you view the world and the people in it?
Are you a glass half-full, or glass half-empty person? Are there soulmates? Is your SO irreplaceable, or are there plenty of fish in the sea? Do you feel lucky that you found this person, or is he/she just a fairly interesting person from a pool of fairly interesting people that you picked at random. Would losing them hurt deeply, or be closer to an inconvenience? How you (and your partner) view each other determines whether jealousy is seen positively or not (as well as the extent to which it can be tolerated if it is seen negatively).

- What is a relationship to you?
This is a whole other monster to write about. Basically; how do you see a relationship? As a mere agreement to sleep with only one person? Two people having fun together? As a short-term, or long-term thing? As a prelude to something more meaningful, and deep? What are the responsibilities of people in a relationship (if any)? What are the features of a good, or long-lasting relationship in your opinion? Each person's answers to these questions will help influence (to some extent) their opinion of jealousy as sign of love or not.

Thanks for giving me something to think about :)

[Asker]

This is too much to think about haha

[Aethereal]

:D
As I said, you could write a book about it.

[normalice]

insecurity. Or rather, while jealously may take root in love, it is insecurity that gives it it's obnoxious mass. You can be jealous without spilling your worries out on everyone around you. But add insecurities into the mix and the chances for spillage increase dramatically.

[thatonegirl00]

It's a sign of insecurity. It does not show love nor is it cute. It leads people to being petty and jealousy hurts not just the one jealous but also the one dealing with the jealous person. If a person is jealous, they need to take a breather from relationships and work on themselves and self love so they can be more trusting and secure so they don't ruin relationships or good times with pettiness and negativity. If you are distrustful of someone for no reason, seriously, work on that. Being accused of cheating every day is so not fun. If someone really does make you feel insecure because they literally flirt with other people in front of you or something, that's when you walk away with your nose held high.

[BlueLagoon90]

I like jealousy! I won’t date a man who isn’t a little jealous

[Asker]

@BlueLagoon90 same it makes me feel good knowing he's scared to lose me

[BrittBratt2416]

Depends. It can be both or one or the other. If it occurs in a romantic situation, then it's because that person most likely has feelings for the other person and doesn't want to share them with anyone else. If it's a competition, then it means that person doesn't want to loose cause it will make them feel inferior.

[BrittBratt2416]

There's normal/healthy doses of jealousy and there's not. It's perfectly normal to experience jealousy at some point in your life as long as you don't let it turn you into monster.

[markscott]

For the most part, jealousy is a result of insecurity, not love. However, if there is good reason to be jealous, such as your partner is flirting hard with another person, etc., it would be very appropriate to be jealous.

[motownplayer2000]

It can be either, or both. You can be jealous of what two people have, but not like or love either of them.. or you can be in love with one, and be jealous that, he or she, is in love with someone else

[BestUserName100]

Yes it could be love because you wouldn’t care if not? If you didn’t care about losing them or you didn’t love them, it wouldn’t matter. If they show jealousy that’s hinting that they care.

[Ronald_25]

Love, in my opinion, it means she loves me and wants me all to herself. If she starts fights with my female friends, then that's gone too far...

[R_Cakes91]

Insecurity mostly. It’s normal to get jealous when you love someone too but it’s all about how you handle that emotion.

[EmbraceThePain]

It can honestly be both, but no way to know for sure how much of either it is, unless you know the person in question.

[Anonymous]

It depends. A woman is jealous of her friends relationship. She could be jealous because she’s insecure and can’t get a date. Or she could be jealous because she’s in love with her friend’s partner.

[ChocolateBrowny]

Jealousy is insecurity when you believe your crush doesn't like you enough. Either they deliberately made you jealous or it was an accident.

[slatyb]

100% Insecurity. True love is trusting. Without trust its just a transaction.

[Surely]

Love should allow the person to trust the other one. Which then bring jealousy into the picture without love.

[Kwikkwekkwak]

I think both. It can have multiple reasons ofcourse

[Wowgirl30q]

Envy=jealousy
Jealousy=hate
It's a dangerous insecurity

[Daniel3035]

Love. Jealousy or fear of cheated on when with the person you love is insecurity

[Fuentes]

Depends how you take it it's both but sometimes it can be overboard

[Guardian45]

Both. But a HUGE difference depending on how the person reacts to it.

[bananathunder]

possibly both? if you're insecure and love someone and don't want to lose them

[Iron_Man]

It's a sign that they don't trust you when you're out by yourself with your friends

[Piteka5]

Both, but love, specially in it's passionate initial stages carries a lot of jealousy

[HereIbe]

Total insecurity. MY PROPERTY! MY ANIMAL! MY LIVESTOCK!

[RussianNestingDoll]

I want my man to myself; mind, body, and soul. I’m not meant to be polyamorous.

[Kit_Kat88]

Minor jealousy is a sign of love maybe but major jealousy is mostly due to insecurity

[PrincessGrail]

It’s both

[Jjpayne]

Insecurity and a lack of trust

[serious]

It is surely a sign of insecurity.

[Anonymous]

Both. How much jealousy determines which.

[ZeussLightningBolt]

I think it could be both

[PrincessJasmine24]

Sign of love and he cares about me

[pizzalovershouse]

can be ether usely caring

[bklynbadboy1]

It's a little of both

[SilverRain92]

It's a sign of both insecurity and feelings

[Aiko_E_Lara]

Love with less consideration

[interested70]

I actually think it can be a little bit of both.

[madmark]

can be either or both

[upen007]

I think it"s love.

[RoadRunner2fast]

I like jealousy

[Asker]

Me too

[Elliegirl]

A little bit of both

[Slim57]

What does it matter

[Asker]

So true it doesn't matter.

[winterfox10]

insecurity.

[Grond21]

Insecurity.

[vald9inches]

Insecurity

[KandyKane1]

Both...

[Vesta]

Yeah

[blondfrog]

IT can be both.

[PersonZ]

Either/both.

[NovissimumVirorum]

Insecure love

[PrinceOfAljazeera]

insecurity

[Nayrr]

A mixture of the two

[andyaa]

Both...

[Jon1108]

Nope

[Smf1989]

Sign of love

[Anonymous]

could be both