Jealousy

Jealousy is defined as an envious or bitter attitude. Many people experience it every day, but not many stop to actually analyze it and consider the effects of it on their outlooks on life. This is an emotion having components of both anger and fear commonly found in children. It originates from the lack of a sense of security for the affections of one who is loved and more attended to.The most common impression of jealousy is a negative one. That idea is because jealousy is a complex emotion that can be detrimental in many ways. Jealousy can hurt one if it is taken too seriously. Often, jealousy is casually shrugged off. However, if it persists, jealousy can break a person down. Jealousy can even cause negative results such as making a person hurt someone else. 

  "The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves."(William Penn)

Jealousy arises apprehending loss of affection. Apprehension of losing affection leads to the attitude of resentment directed towards the rival relation to a loved one, the child feels insecure and never wishes to lose that person's affection. There is subtle difference between "envy" and "jealousy". In envy, the need not be any loved one. It is a desire for things, which belong to the competitor. McDougall has defined envy as "a grudging contemplation of more fortunate persons". 

 A multifaceted emotion, jealousy is also potentially favorable. Jealousy can cause one to strive to be better. One can be motivated by the need to become better. Envy for someone else can be a good thing. Therefore, jealousy is also a positive emotion. Finally, jealousy can be a neutral and ineffective emotion. Many people who experience jealousy choose to live with it and not do anything about it. These people are not affected by jealousy, positively or negatively. They simply ignore the emotion and continue to live on with their lives. In this case, jealousy is neither harmful nor helpful.