Unraveling the Psychology of Envy: When It Hurts and When It Drives Us Forward
- BY JENS SCHRÖDER
- 13 MINUTES
When jealousy assaults us - and when it soars unchecked - Tormenting jealousy's grip: Exploring its impact and consequences
Emotions are powerful influencers shaping our thoughts, actions, and experiences on a profound level. They color the lens through which we perceive the world, our memories, and our expectations. While we may not always have full control over our feelings, we can choose to influence them through our actions and thought patterns.
- Psychology
- Envy
Envy—that green-eyed monster—often causes feelings of unease, insecurity, and loneliness. It can be disguised as anger, bitterness, or resentment. When not addressed, these feelings can lead to isolation and loneliness not just for the envious, but for those around them as well.
The Tricky Psychological Footprints of Envy
Envy is a complex emotion that arises from a perceived lack or inadequacy compared to others. It manifests differently in different individuals, leading to a variety of psychological effects.
- The Emotional Rollercoaster: Envy breeds feelings of hurt, insecurity, loneliness, which often camouflage as anger, bitterness, or resentment. This emotional turmoil can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness, impacting not just the envious, but those in their circle too [4].
- Misery Loves Company: Malicious envy, characterized by ill-will and a perverse pleasure derived from others' misfortunes (schadenfreude), can lead to harmful behaviors such as spreading rumors or sabotaging others' success [1].
- Keeping Up With the Joneses: Envy is deeply rooted in social comparison. We often judge ourselves unfavorably against others, a tendency social media exacerbates by providing a constant platform for comparison [1][5]. This can lead to decreased well-being and increased feelings of inadequacy.
- Your Mental Health Matters: Like jealousy, envy can negatively affect mental health by contributing to anxiety, depression, and mood swings. It can also lead to decreased self-esteem and confidence [2][4].
- Relationships Take a Hit: Envy can sour relationships by fostering distrust and competition. It can cause individuals to feel threatened or undermined by others' successes, leading to behaviors aimed at diminishing those achievements [3].
Overcoming Envy: Transforming a Monster into an Inspiration
To minimize the negative impact of envy and harness its potential for positive change, consider these strategies:
- Pause and Reflect: Recognize when feelings of envy surface, acknowledge them without judgment, and take a moment to reflect upon them. This can help prevent the escalation of negative emotions [5].
- Change the Game: Instead of being consumed by envy, use it as inspiration to work towards your own personal goals. By making envy a catalyst for progress, it can be transformed into admiration and positive action [5].
- Step Back from the Comparison Game: Limiting exposure to social media and other platforms that foster comparison can help reduce feelings of inadequacy. Focus instead on personal achievements and progress [5].
- Fostering Empathy and Gratitude: Cultivating empathy for others' struggles and expressing gratitude for your own successes and opportunities can help you develop a more balanced perspective [5].
- In the realm of psychology, envy, the green-eyed monster, is a complex emotion that originates from perceived inadequacies compared to others, and can have adverse effects on an individual's health-and-wellness, as well as their mental-health, leading to feelings of unhappiness, anxiety, and decreased self-esteem.
- Envy, being a tricky emotion with far-reaching psychological footprints, can influence one's emotional well-being, trigger harmful behaviors such as spreading rumors or sabotaging others' success, and contribute to negative mental health issues like depression and mood swings, hence underscoring the importance of understanding and managing this emotion for overall health-and-wellness and mental-health.
