A Psychologist Explains The Excessive Jealousy Of ‘Othello Syndrome’

Think about an individual so consumed by jealousy that they topic their associate to lie detector exams each time they arrive dwelling, continually monitoring their associate’s actions by checking their telephones, emails and financial institution statements a number of instances a day, and even going so far as proscribing their associate from watching tv reveals or taking a look at magazines that includes the alternative intercourse.

Whereas this will sound like a situation out of a film, it is a harsh actuality for people fighting Othello syndrome. It’s named after Shakespeare’s play’s famously jealous titular character, Othello, whose baseless jealousy results in his personal downfall and that of his family members.

This unusual psychiatric situation leads people to irrationally consider their romantic associate is untrue regardless of having no proof to assist this perception.

What Is Othello Syndrome?

In response to a 2022 examine revealed in European Psychiatry, Othello Syndrome is “a psychiatric situation consisting of delusional jealousy and irritability. It’s usually related to psychiatric or neurological issues. The most typical are delusional dysfunction and dementia.” People with Othello syndrome are satisfied, with none actual proof, that their associate is dishonest on them. They might present indicators resembling:

• Persistent jealousy. The affected particular person continually accuses their associate of infidelity with none actual proof.
• Obsessive ideas. They could repeatedly test their associate’s cellphone, emails, or social media for indicators of dishonest.
• Behavioral modifications. They might turn out to be controlling, desirous to know the place their associate is always and with whom.

People affected by Othello syndrome usually have sure neurological or psychiatric situations. Parkinson’s illness sufferers, for instance, would possibly expertise hallucinations and delusions, resulting in unfounded accusations.

These with schizophrenia or dementia can develop irrational beliefs about their associate’s infidelity. Continual substance abusers may also show paranoid ideas of their companions dishonest on them.

A latest examine discovered that the typical age of the people affected by Othello syndrome was 58 years, with extra males affected than girls (nearly 2 males for each girl). The causes of Othello Syndrome included:

• Major psychiatric issues (22% of circumstances)
• Different medical situations resembling cerebrovascular accidents, Alzheimer’s illness, vascular dementia, meningioma and pituitary adenoma (52% of circumstances)
• Drugs or different substances (26% of circumstances)

The most typical causes inside these teams have been delusional dysfunction, strokes and drugs that have an effect on dopamine ranges within the mind.

Earlier experiences of infidelity or abandonment may also contribute to growing these delusions. As an illustration, one Reddit person shared his father’s expertise with Othello Syndrome, “He has been accusing my mom of dishonest for a number of years now. My uncle believes it stems from when he cheated on my mom one time a very long time in the past. He believes that my father is so scared to face the reality of being a cheater that it’s simpler for him to make consider that my mom has cheated and due to this fact, all blame consideration ought to be on her.”

How Does Othello Syndrome Influence Relationships?

A 2012 examine recognized 105 circumstances of delusional jealousy of sufferers with neurodegenerative Othello Syndrome from the Mayo Clinic’s digital medical information system. Right here’s what the physicians reported a number of the sufferers mentioned:

• “He says the rationale for his starvation strike is that his spouse is having an affair with a number of different sufferers within the nursing dwelling and that she entertains them within the lounge periodically.”
• “He experiences that he sees his spouse having intercourse in a theater and hears his spouse’s voice moaning as if she is having an orgasm.”
• “She states, ‘Once we are making love, he turns away and goes out to the lounge and dances for her after which comes again.’ When challenged whether or not the affected person has really seen the lady or talked to her, she states, ‘No.’”

Regardless that these are scientific circumstances of delusional jealousy, people with pathological jealousy in day-to-day life may exhibit related behaviors. These people could exhibit obsessive, controlling and generally even violent behaviors as they struggle to make sure their associate’s constancy.

Dwelling with Othello Syndrome considerably impacts each the sufferer and their associate. For the associate, fixed accusations and invasive checks pressure the connection, inflicting stress and anxiousness. For the person with the syndrome, the delusions create a perpetual state of mistrust and paranoia, severely affecting their psychological well-being.

“I can’t reside this life. For readability, I’ve by no means—not as soon as—cheated on her (his spouse). However I’m accused of probably the most outrageous stuff I merely haven’t performed.” a Redditor expresses issues over his spouse’s habits. “She has accused me of getting intercourse with dozens of girls, a few of whom I don’t also have a clue who she’s speaking about. If I communicate to a lady or smile or they smile at me or communicate to me, I have to be, based on her, having intercourse with that particular person. I’d by no means have the time or alternative. She retains tabs on me on a regular basis.”

The misery and confusion skilled by these with a associate affected by Othello syndrome will be important. The relentless accusations and fixed surveillance can create a poisonous atmosphere, severely straining the connection.

“Man (her boyfriend) used to take a seat me down each single day about some social media publish or too quick hug or regardless of the hell it was I did that day that made him really feel like I wasn’t loving him sufficient or I will need to have some secret relationship I wasn’t telling him about. Not enjoyable,” expressed one other Reddit person.

The fixed distrust can result in frequent arguments and a breakdown in communication. Each the particular person with Othello syndrome and their associate can expertise important emotional ache and stress.

Understanding Othello syndrome highlights the devastating impression of irrational jealousy on relationships and well-being. It underscores the significance of psychological well being in sustaining wholesome relationships and divulges how excessive jealousy can flip marriage right into a nightmare.

Is your jealousy regular or bordering on pathological? Take the Cognitive Jealousy Scale for a science-backed reply.