Background: Jealousy Leading To Violence And In Extreme Cases Death

Studies have shown that young males experiencing intense sexual jealousy are among the most common perpetrators of murder and suicide. Similarly, studies have noted the prevalence of jealousy as a motive in nonfatal wife abuse and courtship violence. Culture appears to contribute to the severity of aggression in sexual jealousy situations among males. Hupka and James M. Ryan (1990) studied ninety-two preindustrial societies and found that importance attached to being married, limitations placed on nonmarital sexual gratification, and emphasis placed on private ownership of property are associated with more aggressive responses in jealousy situations.

Further evidence for the importance of culture comes from the work of Ana R. Delgado, Gerardo Prieto, and Roderick A. Bond (1997) who examined whether people consider jealousy justification for wife battery. They found striking differences between Britain where the harm-doer was seen as more guilty and Spain where the victim was seen as more guilty.