Jealousy vs Envy
Let’s talk about it! (Jealousy vs Envy)
Jealousy and envy are two emotions that may seem similar at first glance, but in reality, have very different roots. Envy is a quieter, more insidious feeling of resentment towards someone who has something you want. Usually an object or material possession. Jealousy is a more intense feeling of fear and anger directed at another person. Who you believe is in some way trying to take something away from you. The key difference between jealousy and envy is the intensity of their feelings. A jealous person often acts out their feelings through violence or aggression. While an envious person can typically control their feelings without causing any harm. Jealousy vs Envy.
Envy is a quieter, more insidious feeling.
Envy is a quieter, more insidious feeling. It’s not as intense as jealousy, but it’s not necessarily positive either. Envy stems from wanting something that someone else has. A characteristic, a possession, or a certain lifestyle. When you feel envy for someone, you want to be that person in some way.
Envy can lead to resentment and bitterness if it’s left unchecked. But on the flip side and when used constructively. Envy is a great way to motivate yourself and give yourself an extra push toward achieving your goals!
According to Dr. Susan Krauss Whitbourne, one of Sigmund Freud’s disciples, jealousy evolved from primates’ innate need to protect their offspring from predators.
According to Dr. Susan Krauss Whitbourne, one of Sigmund Freud’s disciples, jealousy evolved from primates’ innate need to protect their offspring from predators. It’s a feeling that can be triggered by anything that threatens what we feel is ours: whether it be an object or a person. And as opposed to envy, jealousy isn’t just something we feel in relation to others. It has more far-reaching consequences for our own lives and well-being. Jealousy is an emotional pain felt when someone takes something away from us. But envy entails wishing things were different than they are now.
Envy, however, arises when we feel resentful about not having something our peers possess.
You’re feeling envious of a friend who just bought a new pair of shoes. They look so comfortable, and you wish you could wear them too! But why? You don’t even know what the shoes look like. You just want to be wearing them because your friend has them.
In contrast, jealousy is triggered by a threat to something that we already possess or have possession of. It’s motivated by comparison: when we compare ourselves to other people or objects. Jalousy arises when we feel as though our own possessions are threatened by something else (or someone else).
Instead of a drive to achieve or protect something. Envy is driven by the gap between what we have and what other people do.
Instead of a drive to achieve or protect something, envy is driven by the gap between what we have and what other people do.
Jealousy is a response to something you feel you don’t yet have. Envy, on the other hand, is about what others have. It’s all about the gap between what you have and what others do.
“Jealousy is associated with fear of loss, it would make sense then that one way to reduce jealousy would be to bolster self-esteem,” explains Dr. Antonia Abbey.
“Jealousy is associated with fear of loss, it would make sense then that one way to reduce jealousy would be to bolster self-esteem,” explains Dr. Antonia Abbey. “If you feel good about yourself, and have confidence in your abilities. Then you are less likely to be threatened when someone else does something well.”
But how exactly do we go about building up our self-esteem? The answer isn’t exactly clear-cut—every person’s experience with this emotion will differ depending on their personal history and environment. But there are some things that experts say may help:
- Learn from your mistakes
- Create systems that work for you
Once you recognize the source of your envy. You can try to change the thoughts that are causing you pain, Dr. Imani suggests.
- Once you recognize the source of your envy, you can try to change the thoughts that are causing you pain, Dr. Imani suggests.
- Remember that other people’s lives are not perfect either. If someone seems to have it all together, they probably don’t—they just choose not to show their insecurities or flaws on social media.
- There’s a good chance that there’s someone who has it much worse than you do: “So many times people will tell me about something going wrong for them, and then I’ll hear about something happening with someone else,” says Dr. Imani. And those things can actually help put yours into perspective!
Jealousy and envy may sound similar, but they have very different roots and should be handled differently.
Jealousy and envy may sound similar, but they have very different roots and should be handled differently.
So, Jealousy is a fear of loss, while envy is a desire to have what others have.
When you’re jealous of someone, you may feel threatened by their success; when you’re envious of them, it’s because you want what they have. Whatever it is. “Envy” comes from the Latin word invidus meaning “unhappy” or “sorrowful.”
People who are envious often feel inferior in some way and believe that success will make them happier than those around them who aren’t successful. This feeling can lead to feelings of anger toward people who are more successful than they are (even though being angry doesn’t typically result in getting ahead).
Conclusion
Jealousy and envy might sound like the same thing, but they’re actually different feelings with very different origins. If you’re wondering why you feel envious of someone, keep in mind that envy is often rooted in feelings of inferiority or resentment towards others. Jealousy, on the other hand, comes from a fear of losing something important to us. It’s important to understand these differences so we can learn how to deal with them effectively!
