Psychologist Explanation: What Is Envy

17.10.2023 21:00
Updated: 13.05.2024 21:22

Unlike jealousy, envy usually involves only two people: the person being envied and the person being envied.

What is envy and how does it manifest itself

Envy is a negative feeling caused by another person's success.

Envy is usually defined as a special form of anxiety and often carries destructive consequences for the individual.

When experiencing envy, a person perceives someone’s luck or success in any area as an offensive injustice towards himself.

How does envy arise

Envy is a state of discomfort caused in a person by the awareness of another person's superiority in some area.

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Envy involves feelings of dissatisfaction and the desire to possess what another person has.

Envy arises from social comparison and the desire for self-affirmation.

Why is human envy dangerous

Envy gives rise to self-denial: a person considers himself superior to others, but does not love himself.

The main danger of envy is that we turn our attention to someone else’s life, forgetting about our own.

The danger of envy is the destruction of personality.

The feeling can even lead to degradation when relationships with people are disrupted and irritation from others appears.

What emotions does envy cause

Envy is not included in the “basic palette” of emotions; it is considered complex.

This feeling can consist of different components: shame, guilt, resentment, sadness, anxiety and anger.

The specific set depends on the person.

Some people are angry that someone was more successful than them, and do not feel guilty about it at all.

Diana Dashkevich Author: Diana Dashkevich Editor internet resource


Content
  1. What is envy and how does it manifest itself
  2. How does envy arise
  3. Why is human envy dangerous
  4. What emotions does envy cause