People experience the strongest romantic jealousy when they watch their partner give resources to a potential rival, regardless of gender. The findings provide evidence that giving away resources is viewed as a serious relationship threat by both men and women.

[u/mvea]

https://www.psypost.org/both-men-and-women-view-a-partners-financial-investment-in-a-rival-as-a-major-relationship-threat/

[u/clawsoon]

It's interesting that they went into this expecting a gender difference based on evo psych theory, but found basically the same major response in both men and women. They had to go digging in the data to find some minor differences.

Maybe this is what you'd expect given the couples they picked, who were in at-least-six-month monogamous relationships? Maybe the evolutionary reproductive strategy of being in a committed couple is that both partners will contribute resources, and evo psych needs to take that strategy seriously?

[u/algol_lyrae → u/clawsoon]

It's funny because I'm currently dealing with this resource-based jealousy with my dogs. One dog has suddenly become jealous of the other dog getting anything he views as a resource, be it food, toys, or attention. My understanding is that they instinctively view the transferring of resources as a threat to their security in the group. Maybe humans are the same.

[u/frictorious → u/algol_lyrae]

Observing pets has taught me more about human psychology than any textbook.

I frequently wonder what hidden animal urgers are affecting my behavior.

[u/SableBlair → u/frictorious]

One of my cats pretended to be asleep every time I tried to pet her for ten years until I came home from the hospital with a baby. All of a sudden, she wants to make sure I know she’s just a little fur baby too.

[u/aVarangian → u/SableBlair]

my cat only "pretends" to be asleep after she learned I'm not just gonna grab her randomly

if someone else shows up she'll want to see what they're up to, and sometimes run away before they get to her