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Cognitive Jealousy Scale

Cognitive Jealousy Scale

Are you often suspicious of your partner for no reason? Take this test to find out if you suffer from 'cognitive jealousy.'

Mark Travers, Ph.D.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D.

February 7, 2024

Mark Travers, Ph.D., is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, responsible for new client intake and placement. Mark received his B.A. in psychology, magna cum laude, from Cornell University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder. His academic research has been published in leading psychology journals and has been featured in The New York Times and The New Yorker, among other popular publications. He is a regular contributor for Forbes and Psychology Today, where he writes about psycho-educational topics such as happiness, relationships, personality, and life meaning. Click here to schedule an initial consultation with Mark or another member of the Awake Therapy team. Or, you can drop him a note here.

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Cognitive jealousy involves constant thoughts and suspicions regarding potential threats to one's romantic relationship. Rooted in insecurities and past experiences, cognitive jealousy primarily manifests through mental processes, such as rumination and constant questioning of a partner's loyalty.

Identifying and measuring cognitive jealousy symptoms is crucial due to its significant impact on individual well-being and relationship dynamics. When unchecked, cognitive jealousy can lead to decreased trust, heightened conflict, and in extreme cases, relationship dissolution. Understanding the root of this jealousy enables tailored interventions to address underlying insecurities and relationship difficulties effectively.

The cognitive dimension of the Multidimensional Jealousy Scale is valuable in assessing and understanding jealous thoughts. Quantifying the severity and frequency of cognitive jealousy, this scale offers insights to researchers and clinicians, while also allowing individuals to understand the depths of their jealousy.

You can take this test here. Please follow all of the steps to receive your results.

References: Pfeiffer, S. M. & Wong, P. T. P. (1989). Multidimensional jealousy. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 6(2). 181-196. doi:10.1177/026540758900600203

Step 1: Rate the following statements based on how much you agree with them on a scale of strongly disagree to strongly agree.

1. I suspect that my partner is secretly seeing someone else.

2. I am worried that someone else may be chasing after my partner.

3. I suspect that my partner may be attracted to someone else.

4. I suspect that my partner may be physically intimate with someone else behind my back.

5. I think that someone else may be romantically interested in my partner.

6. I am worried that someone else is trying to seduce my partner.

7. I think that my partner is secretly developing an intimate relationship with someone else.

8. I suspect that my partner is crazy about someone else.

0 of 0 questions answered

Step 2: Enter your age, gender, region, and first name so we can provide you with a detailed report that compares your test scores with people similar to you.

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What region of the world do you live in?

What is your first name?

Step 3: Check to make sure you've provided answers to all of the statements/questions above. Once you've done that, click the button below to send your responses to Awake Therapy's Lead Psychologist, Mark Travers, Ph.D. He will provide you with an overview of how you scored relative to others (all answers are anonymized and confidential to protect users' privacy). He can also answer any follow-up questions you may have.