R. Krug et al., JEALOUSY, GENERAL CREATIVITY, AND COPING WITH SOCIAL FRUSTRATION DURING THE MENSTRUAL-CYCLE, Archives of sexual behavior, 25(2), 1996, pp. 181-199
Sensitivity to feelings of jealousy in women (n = 16) at three phases
of their menstrual cycle differing in serum hormone concentrations (me
nses, preovulatory phase, midluteal phase) was investigated. Nonspecif
ic electrodermal activity indicating sympathetic excitation was measur
ed while subjects listened to stories and imagined situations inducing
(i) nonsexual jealousy (the partner forms a deep emotional attachment
to another woman), (ii) sexual jealousy (the partner has sexual inter
course with another woman), and (iii) no jealousy (social interaction
lacking intense emotionality). Subjective ratings of the intensity of
jealousy during both stories of jealousy were also assessed. In additi
on, changes in cognitive coping abilities, in general, and in the cont
ext of socially frustrating events, were assessed by tests of divergen
t thinking (creativity) and the Rosenzweig Picture Frustration Test. F
requency of nonspecific electrodermal reactions was generally enhanced
during the preovulatory phase. This increase was particularly strong
when the women listened to stories inducing nonsexual jealousy, i.e.,
a story characterized by cues of a complete loss of the partner's inve
stment. Rated jealousy tended to be enhanced during the ovulatory phas
e, especially after the story of nonsexual jealousy. These changes in
emotionality were paralleled by an improved divergent thinking perform
ance and less aggressive coping with socially frustrating events aroun
d the time of ovulation.