Maintain the Relationship or Protect it from Threat? Jealousy Shapes Distinct Types of Goal Striving in Romantic Relationships

We investigated the reciprocal relationships of jealousy and maintenance versus protection goal striving in romantic relationships. While existing research has examined various ways in which romantic partners respond to jealousy and invest in their relationship, it lacks a distinction between routine acts of regular care for the current state of the relationship (maintenance goal striving) and acts that protect against anticipated negative outcomes to the relationship (protection goal striving). Drawing from the ternary goal framework—which delineates maintenance, protection, and progress as three inherently distinct goal types—we argue that jealousy leads individuals to favor protection over maintenance goal striving. Additionally, we argue that the relative increase in protection over maintenance striving leads to an increase in jealousy, which in turn leads to further increase in protection over maintenance and thus to a self-reinforcing cycle that alters relationship dynamics. Across three studies (N = 842), including experimental (Study 1) and longitudinal approaches with individual (Study 2) and dyadic data (Study 3), jealousy predicted protection over maintenance goal striving. Additionally, protection goal striving increased jealousy in longitudinal data from both individuals and couples. This research provides initial evidence that protection and maintenance goals play distinct roles in romantic relationships. The reinforcing cycle of jealousy and protection may have important implications for relationship functioning, as protection efforts may come at the cost of regular maintenance efforts that typically sustain relationship stability and satisfaction.