Why are so many people jealous in this world?

I find I’m jealous when I think someone has something I don’t think they deserve or I believe they have it and don’t appreciate it. It’s my perception and not necessarily the way things are but I’ll get irked nonetheless. The rest of the time I’m envious of people who have or do things I’d like but it’s not a big deal, I often admire them or am happy for them more than I’m negatively envious. Does that make any sense that I’m okay feeling envy but I don’t equate it with jealousy? Dunno but I do.

Do you mean envious?

Jealousy has to do with a person thinking they’re about to lose or are losing the affection of their beloved to someone else. Envy is being upset that someone else has something that you want, be it a person, experience or thing.

I know when I’m envious, it’s because deep down, I don’t believe I’m capable of having or will have the opportunity to get something. Whether or not such a circumstance would actually be true, I don’t know. But being aware of that I’m thinking in terms of lack when I don’t honestly lack for very much makes me pause and think about what I’m telling myself or what negative beliefs I’m reinforcing and the envy subsides. Mind, this is a new of way of thinking for me. Sometimes I don’t catch it until much later.

@hungryhungryhortence, @aprilsimnel Those were really good answers. I wish I had thought of them!

;)

Because we all want what we don’t or can’t have.

Envy is the art of counting the other fellow’s blessings instead of his own.

Jealousy feels like such a raw emotion, comes out of nowhere sometimes, feels so innate. The older I get, the more I realise that it is possible to contain jealousy and not let my behaviour be dictated to by it and certainly to not blame it on the behaviour of another person. Someone else might trigger my jealousy but it is always just that,my jealousy, no one else’s, I am responsible for it. It would not surprise me if jealousy has some evolutionary purpose.

Well, jealousy is actually a fairly useful emotion. Tends to help you figure out what you want or need.

In “Vanilla Sky”—a marvelous film, if you haven’t seen it—Brian (best friend to the handsome, wealthy David) says to him after they almost get hit by a truck, “We almost died and YOUR life flashed before my eyes.” Now THAT’s envy for you.

I think jealousy is when you covet something of another person’s, and just want to have it yourself. Envy is when you don’t care if anyone else gets it too, you want that for yourself (a bit more generous).

Jealousy is a problem when it helps you make bad life decisions, and when you start losing friends and people lose confidence in you because they question your motives. When you can’t enjoy a friendship or a movie or anything life has to offer just you. When your actions from jealousy hurt others, and limit you emotionally and physically.

I personally believe we all get jealous on occasion, it’s human nature, but acting on it is the problem. For example, if you’re jealous but keep it to yourself and the feeling fades, replaced by admiration, nothing wrong with that. But if you’re jealous and start plotting someone’s ruin, that is not good.

Envy is not so bad either, so long as you can channel it into self-improvement and make it a positive motivator for yourself. sorry if I’m rambling, I think I need a break from the computer

if you use the point of view presently in wiki then envy is probably what is meant.

Jealousy is probably genetically based and selected for. Those who secure and protect their sole rights to a mate will have more offspring from that mate.

Culturally, and psychologically it can be modified, just like any other base instinct. Pathologically it could become counterproductive if conditioned just so.

Envy makes sense, and if addressed could be a loong discussion.

In true communism there is no envy comrades.

Aren’t we taught to be jealous?

Aren’t we always encouraged to want more…to have “better”…to be dissatisfied with what we already have?

Jealousy would seem to be inevitable.

It’s a wonder more people aren’t.

Some see life as a competition and seeing a neighbor getting most of what they wish for is a sign of losing. Media and family taught us that. But when we are literate on that department we know it is how we strive for our selves is more worth noticing.

Jealsoy is most often a sign of insecurity. Only people who are the subject of jealosy would believe it was very important. Most people do not experience it.

i always thought that “jealousy” is what I am talking about, and “envy” was a kind of jealousy but more an admiration, like oh i wish i had that. The kind of jealousy I am talking about is not boyfriend/girlfriend jealousy, it is not i love you but jealous, it is having a friend thats supposedly loves you and yet you know deep down that she is not happy for you. From the simplest thing like telling her some good news and she changing the subject for she can not bear to hear it. I find is sad to come to a point when you must hide your good news for fear of making another feel worse about their life?? I also do not really understand jealousy when the other person who is acting jealous has it all in my opinion!! Perhaps jealousy has no logic?

If it’s jealousy I think it’s because we’re territorial.

@chian Of course we need to be sensitive to others, especially friends but as a general rule, I would not hide any good news “for fear of making another feel worse about their life”, there will always be things we wish we had but we must learn to deal with the feelings this arouses, one of the lessons of life, part of being human. Maybe you could look at it this way: your news may facilitate that process in someone’s life?

@VanCityKid i totally agree with this.