Romantic jealousy is usually defined as one of the most automatic reaction to threats to the relationship by third parties and is usually divided into sexual and emotional jealousy. Previous studies employing evolutionary approach have shown gender differences in the perception of jealousy; men generally demonstrate higher response to sexual infidelity (SI) (to ensure their paternity), whereas women to emotional infidelity (EI) (to maintain the man's resources).
Studies on jealousy between homosexual partners showed, that gay men tend to be more sensitive to EI, whereas lesbians expressed more concerns regarding SI. These studies suggest that the type of jealousy might depend on the sex of respondent's partner.
The aim of this study was to explore the experience of jealousy in heterosexuals and homosexuals using an online survey, and to examine whether sexual/emotional jealousy differs depending on a respondent's partner's sex.