The downside of being sexually restricted: The effects of sociosexual orientation on relationships between jealousy, rejection, and anger

Why do some people become more jealous than others? Some people require emotional closeness before sexual intercourse, whereas others are less restricted sexually. Because restricted people may invest more in relationships, they may feel greater rejection and anger when jealous. We tested this hypothesis in a daily diary study of 50 heterosexual dating couples. Participants completed a sociosexual orientation questionnaire to measure sexual restriction. Daily partner-related feelings of rejection, jealousy, and anger were assessed for 30 days. The more jealousy participants experienced, the greater their feelings of rejection and anger; this relationship was strongest for sexually restricted participants. These findings suggest that sexual restriction may increase risk of feelings of rejection and anger in the wake of jealousy.