Why Do Guys Get Jealous When You’re Not Dating Them?
Dealing with a boyfriend who is constantly jealous can be quite difficult, but it can be more annoying when guys get jealous even when you are not dating them.
There are many reasons for this:
- They secretly like you
- They feel protective of you
- They don’t want to lose you
- They might even be your ex
Whatever the reason, it’s best to know why guys get jealous even when you’re not dating them. Knowing this will help you understand how to tackle the issue. Let’s get into it.
Why Do Guys Get Jealous Even When You Are Not Dating Them?
1. He Is Your Secret Admirer
The most common reason for the jealousy is that your guy friend has feelings for you but probably does not know the best way to communicate those feelings to you or is scared of what might happen if he does. And when he sees you interact with other guys, this uncertainty manifests itself as jealousy.
What Can You Do?
The best way to resolve jealousy issues is through effective communication. You must first ask yourself whether you feel the same way for him or not. If you cannot reciprocate those feelings, then you must tell him immediately, or else you will end up hurting him.
2. He Does Not Want To Lose You
Ladies, trust me when I say this – a guy doesn’t need to have feelings for you to be afraid of losing you. They’re just scared that when you start dating someone else, you might forget about them or not soend the same time with them like you used to pre-relationship.
What Can You Do?
In this scenario, swift communication is necessary; otherwise, you risk losing the friendship altogether. You should directly talk to the guy and let him know that his actions are preventing you from living your life to the fullest. Let him know that nothing will change if you start dating someone and reassure him that you’ll always have time for him.
3. He Is Feeling Insecure
According to Psych Alive, jealousy often originates from insecurity because it might feel like we are doomed to be rejected or deceived (see point #1).
What Can You Do?
If the guy is feeling insecure, you need to remember that it is not your fault. He should be able to deal with his insecurity. All you can do is reassure him that he means a lot to you and you value your friendship with him.
4. Commitment Phobia
Some men dread being in a committed relationship. They don’t want commitments, but they still want to flirt around with you and get jealous when a real boyfriend comes along. This situation can be quite confusing for women, but you should keep in mind that you have the right to see anyone to want.
What Can You Do?
The first thing you should do is talk to him about his commitment issues. Maybe he has been through a bad experience in the past, which makes it difficult for him to trust someone. If you can work out a way around these issues, then great! But if not, you should let him know that you are not someone he can play around with.
5. He Is Your Ex
Hey, you can still be friends with your ex. If you are on good terms with your ex and still hang out as friends, there might be a little room for jealousy. Your former partner might not be so supportive or excited for you when you start seeing other people. Even if you ended your relationship on good terms, things still might be a bit sour.
What Can You Do?
There is absolutely no need to be involved in any kind of toxic relationship. If your ex is showing signs of jealousy towards you, you should let him know that it’s not right. Jealousy is a natural feeling, but if you both decided to end the relationship, neither of you has the right to show any form of resentment against each other. Even if you feel that the best thing to do is stop seeing each other, you should.
6. Your Past Actions
Now, I’m not blaming anyone here, but sometimes, what you do in the past can cause jealousy in your guys friends. For example, if you ever broke your friend’s trust by lying to him about something, and you don’t do the same with your other guy friends or your partner, it will instill feelings of jealousy in this particular guy friend. “Why did she lie to me and not to him?” is something that will constantly be on his mind.
What Can You Do?
Trust is supposed to be earned. If you think that your friend has a feeling of jealousy in him because of your past actions, you can reassure him that something like that won’t happen again. It is up to you to be honest with your friend if you truly care. The jealousy will eventually subside once you get his trust back.
7. You Have a Successful Career and He Doesn’t
Even your female friends will jealous if you’re doing better than them! It’s just natural. A successful career not only impacts a woman’s professional life, but also her personal life. People naturally feel insecure about their own achievements and want what you have.
What Can You Do?
If you are true to yourself and have the potential to reach a good position at work, you shouldn’t let these fools stop you. You should watch out and be observant of such men, though. It is best to ignore them and avoid being around them.
Tips To Deal with Jealous Guy Friends
Guys who are really good friends with girls might develop feelings for them. So when they see you talking to other guys or even dating other guys, they tend to get jealous. There is a way to deal with a situation like this, though, so let’s talk about these techniques.
1. Talk About It
The first thing (and often the best thing) you should do is talk to them about it. If you don’t want to take things further than just a friendship with your guy friend, you should be straight forward about it. Don’t lead him on, and more importantly, don’t ignore the situation.
2. Distance Yourself
I understand that most girls will are probably hesitant when it comes to being straightforward with guys about this. In this case, you can start distancing yourself from them in a way that will give them the idea that you don’t want to escalate anything. Don’t take it too far, though, as it could damage your friendship with them and hurt them. As I said before, the best thing is to just be upfront.
3. Let Them Know What You Want
You can let them know indirectly that you are not looking for a relationship at the moment. Or even if you want to be in a relationship, you can tell them what kind of guy you would be willing to date so that they have a clear idea about where you stand.
Drivers of Jealousy
There is always a trigger point for jealousy. Nobody feels jealous for no reason. According to Elizabeth Bowen, a famous Irish writer, “jealousy is no more than feeling alone against smiling enemies.” A few drivers of jealousy are mentioned below:
1. Ego
Most men get jealous when their ego is hurt. For example, if your guy friend notices that some other man is being a better friend to you, he might feel threatened and get jealous.
2. Competitiveness
Men are usually competitive by nature. Maybe your guy friend wants to impress you, but he isn’t able to, and when someone else does it, he feels jealous even if you two are not dating.
3. Pride
Jealousy is an instinctive emotion that everyone feels at some point. Men might feel the constant need to defend their pride, especially in front of women, which gives rise to jealous behavior.
5 Ways to End Jealousy
This section is for everyone, but men, this is for you, in particular, so pay attention. Sooner or later, jealousy has the potential and tendency to destroy any form of relationship. It also destroys the person who becomes the object of jealousy. Here are a few steps you can take to counter jealousy:
1. Work On Your Self Esteem
Sometimes, low self-esteem can lead to jealousy. Some men are unable to develop their self-esteem due to many reasons. It could be due to early childhood experiences, bad parenting, trust issues, etc. Self-esteem can be restored once you surround yourself with positive people and eliminate all negative energy around you.
2. Accept Criticism
Don’t overly criticize yourself. You cannot make everyone like you. You can help your friend accept some criticism and help him become a better person. Make sure that you keep reminding them how much they mean to you to boost their self-confidence.
3. Groom Yourself
Yes. Men – get rid of that fuzz you call a beard (if you can’t grow a glorious one, of course), and dress better to improve your appearance. Trust me, your dressing matters. Start doing little things such as watching your weight, shaving, taking care of yourself. These things might seem insignificant to some, but it makes a huge difference to the ladies in your life.
4. Keep a Check on Your Emotions
Be true to yourself. Understand your emotions and try to figure out how they affect you. Your emotions can be both positive and negative, so try to filter out the negative emotions and focus on the positive side. The sooner you understand and master your own emotions, the better.
5. Don’t Doubt Yourself
Self-doubt causes jealousy and insecurity. Men who doubt themselves accuse women with baseless arguments and assumptions. When men feel that they are losing their power, they start pinning that blame on women.
Is Jealousy A Natural Feeling?
The answer is yes. Jealousy is a natural feeling. However, you can control the positive and negative aspects of this feeling. Jealousy is usually derived from insecurity and resentment. The essential thing to remember is that this feeling should not get in the way of someone else’s life. You should never ignore this feeling as it might cause further problems.
The Bottom line
So the bottom line is that it is always better to talk about your feelings with someone, especially the concerned person. It might seem like the hardest thing to do, but trust me, it will make everything ten times better. At the very least, you will avoid hurting each other in the end – getting hurt by someone you really care for is the worst feeling.