Is jealousy healthy in a relationship?

This is directly related to sadisticsienna's thread on possessiveness. Jealousy is a form of possessiveness. In the same way, it's never actually a good thing, but some people play around with it for the exciting fun they get from it.

Some women purposely flirt with other males, in front of their official mate, in hopes of triggering his possessive reaction, and thus reassuring themselves that he still cares enough to punch out an innocent stranger. Some males play the same game. I find it annoying, myself, because even though everyone is laughing, they are laughing at something unpleasant.

It's a bit like tickling, in a way. A tickle is a small irritation of the skin. When it's at a low level, some people feel better for the irritation and how their body chemistry reacts to it; but the same low level irritation can be an indication of skin cancer or worse. And even "good" tickling that goes on too long, harms the skin.

Any time a woman "FLIRTS" with another man in front of her man, that is the time to just walk away.

I have had it happen and the woman did not even care how it made me feel. I left her and she wanted to know why. I just told her that it looked like she wanted another man, so she was now free to go get him. Never talked to her again, no matter how many times she called.

Someone has to be a huge jackazz to flirt with someone when their loved one is there.

Jealousy in a relationship is not itself a bane to the relationship (it more or less only affects the jealous person).

It's how you react to it that matters. Personally, if I have a woman who (intentionally or accidently) keeps me in a state of jealousy, than I'd just as soon assume that out lifestyles are not aligned, and see my way out of the relationship.

It's a much healthier path than trying to change someone's actions that they appear to be fine with.

I agree that many people do things to cause their significant other to be jealous. I believe it's a emotion we all have,however it is often a means of control disguised as love. For me, if I feel jealous for a period of time, I end things because I don't like that feeling.

Quote from saudade73:

There are much better ways to show that, rather than jealousy.

I agree. Which is why I say SOME. I mean like when your mate gets a random text message at 1am (I've experienced this personally) and you ask who it was from.

In addition to expressing care/concern it puts the mate on notice just in case he/she is thinking about cheating or already doing so.

I'm not talking "Who else you f**king?" jealous.

I haven't met or dated anyone who's made me feel jealous in a long time now.