(1971). Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 40:59-82 Envy and Jealousy an Attempt at Clarification Confusion between the concepts of envy and jealousy is not only evident in everyday usage but also in the course of clinical work. Often the two words are used either interchangeably or in conjunction with one another, as 'the patient's envy and jealousy'. Even the same color, green, is associated with both emotions, as in the popular phrase 'green with envy' and in Shakespeare's Othello: 'jealousy—the green-eyed monster'. When patients refer to envious and jealous feelings, one listens for the specific dynamic content. Patients often shift from one to the other in their descriptions. For example, a young, divorced, and childless woman was annoyed with a pregnant friend. She acknowledged her envy but then spontaneously spoke of her jealousy. Her envy referred to the wish to have a baby like her friend; her jealousy, to her wish that the friend not have the baby. Jealousy for this patient was the stronger and more objectionable affect since it was connected with h [This is a summary or excerpt from the full text of the book or article. The full text of the document is available to subscribers.] |
