But for a small number of us, extreme jealousy can lead to obsessive behaviour like stalking. It can also cause depression, destroy relationships and even kill – morbidly jealous people can become violent or suicidal.
Now researchers in Italy believe they've found the area of the brain responsible for obsessive jealousy, which is called Othello's syndrome, named after the Shakespeare character who kills his wife because of jealousy.
The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is just above the forehead. This is the part of the brain which processes emotions, including thinking about those we love. But crucially, we use this part of the brain to predict scenarios of losing our loved ones, and thinking about how we would feel if that happened.
Obsessively jealous people spend too much time dwelling on these scenarios. For them, losing their relationship starts to seem like the end of the world. Worryingly, the researchers believe that, in some people, this process may become a habit, and jealousy becomes hardwired in the brain.
They want to investigate medicines which could help treat people suffering from this devastating condition.
Quiz 測驗 1. Which colour is associated with jealousy, in English?
Green.
2. Why does the article say obsessive jealousy can kill?
Because people can become violent or suicidal.
3. Is the area of the brain responsible for jealousy at the front or back of the head?
It's at the front.
4. Which Shakespeare character was obsessively jealous?
Othello.
5. Which word is used by the researchers to describe jealousy which has become permanent in the brain?
Hardwired.
Glossary 词汇表 jealousy（名詞）嫉妒 takes over統管 emotion情緒，情感 what makes us tick能讓我們為之所動的（人或東西） sibling rivalry兄弟姊妹之間的競爭 felt left out感到被冷落了 obsessive迷戀的，沉緬於 stalking跟蹤騷擾 depression壓抑症，抑鬱症，憂鬱症 morbidly jealous病態地嫉妒 violent（行為）暴力的 suicidal自殺的，自殺性的 responsible for對…負責的 forehead額頭 processes處理 scenarios情景，情境 dwelling on總在想著（事） seem like the end of the world好像是世界末日一樣 hardwired固有的 devastating condition可怕的病證
