![]() Repeated denials of infidelity may provoke extreme anger and violence. Victims of homicide are most likely to be current or ex-partners this is true for both male and female perpetrators. Culturally, jealousy may be used to justify violence towards partners, and in some courts of law it can even be used as the basis of a provocation defence. Violence may occur in any relationship marred by jealousy, although the risk may be greater in morbid jealousy. Where jealousy gives rise to fatal violence against the partner, this may be followed by suicide. In a UK population, it was found that 20% of morbidly jealous individuals had made suicide attempts. Aggressive challenging of the partner may be followed by intense remorse during which suicidal action may occur. Suicidal ideation is not uncommon in morbid jealousy, given the association with depression and substance misuse. Heroic efforts to prove innocence or disprove guilt must fail, as irrational preoccupations cannot be refuted rationally. The accused partner is assumed to be guilty until evidence of innocence is found, but this cannot materialise. They may hide recording equipment to detect clandestine liaisons, and some go to extreme lengths, including violence, to extract a confession from their partner. ![]() Jealous individuals may search the partner’s clothes and possessions, scrutinise diaries and correspondence, and examine bed linen, underclothes and even genitalia for evidence of sexual activity. They include interrogation of the partner, repeated telephone calls to work and surprise visits, stalking behaviour, or hiring a private detective to follow the partner. Overt behaviours to investigate suspicions and preoccupations are common and evident to all involved. Once suspicions regarding the partner’s fidelity are established, they quickly become preoccupying. Risks Associated with Othello Syndrome Confirmatory behaviours The most common symptoms of Othello syndrome: In contrast, morbidly jealous individuals interpret conclusive evidence of infidelity from irrelevant occurrences, refuse to change their beliefs even in the face of conflicting information, and tend to accuse the partner of infidelity with many others. Healthy people become jealous only in response to firm evidence, are prepared to modify their beliefs and reactions as new information becomes available, and perceive a single rival. ![]() It is noteworthy that individuals may suffer from morbid jealousy even when their partner is being unfaithful, provided that the evidence that they cite for unfaithfulness is incorrect and the response to such evidence on the part of the accuser is excessive or irrational. ![]() Othello syndrome or morbid jealousy describes a range of irrational thoughts and emotions, together with associated unacceptable or extreme behaviour, in which the dominant theme is a preoccupation with a partner’s sexual unfaithfulness based on unfounded evidence. Delusional jealousy is also known as erotic jealousy syndrome, morbid jealousy, Othello psychosis, or sexual jealousy. Patients with Othello syndrome ascribe personal meaning to benign events, misinterpreting the behavior of others to provide confirmatory evidence for their delusions. Men are diagnosed with Othello syndrome more often than women. It refers to a content-specific delusion characterized by the fixed false belief that one’s partner has been or is being unfaithful. The eponym “Othello syndrome” originates from Shakespeare’s tragedy in which the protagonist’s jealousy over his wife’s supposed infidelity ultimately leads him to commit spousal homicide.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |