Why you should never flirt to make your partner jealous: study

They are flirting with disaster.

While some consider jealousy and possessiveness to be hallmarks of passionate romance, experts warn that flirting with others to inflame your relationship could cost you the love of your life.

Researchers at Tel Aviv’s Reichmann University conducted a study published in the Journal of Sex Research to find out how people react when other people show interest in their partners.

“Our findings highlight that in this context, external focus on the partner may undermine relationship well-being rather than enhance it,” the Reichmann University team noted.

While some people enjoy seeing their partners get pissed off with a bit of friendly competition, this dangerous game can lead to the downfall of a union.

The scientists came together: “The desire to deter potential rivals may still exist, and it may stem more from revenge than a genuine effort to maintain relationships.”

More than 500 participants in serious relationships faced situations in which their partner was either being flirted with or had a neutral interaction with another person.

“Across three experiments, we found that individuals rated their partners as less sexually attractive when they received unsolicited attention from others,” the study reports.

Participants rated their sexual desire for their partner, interest in maintaining the relationship, and thoughts about facing competitors.

People in committed relationships may view flirtatious behavior as a threat to their relationship and trigger a defensive response to prevent potential sparks.

The researchers added: “When the likelihood that a partner is attracted to someone else is high, such as when they receive attention from others, people may become emotionally detached from their partner, thereby reducing their investment in the relationship.”

In some cases, the new attention received may spark a wanderer’s curiosity, which may cause the relationship to go downhill, especially if the single is looking for their way into the relationship, which is often considered ideal.

“Contrary to popular belief, trying to interest your current partner by seeking attention from others can be counterproductive,” the study’s authors wrote.

Despite warnings, many people admit to engaging in unhinged behavior to trigger jealousy in their partners.

Ellie, who goes by the handle @disappointedchef on TikTok, revealed in a video online how she deleted everyone except her ex from her Instagram story and posted a photo of her hiding in the closet, The Washington Post previously reported In the photo, pretend to turn off the lights. In a club.

“I engaged in this completely unhinged act,” she said in the video. “I wanted him to think I was seeing someone.”