They’re flirting — with disaster.
While some view jealousy and possessiveness as traits of a passionate romance, experts warn that flirting with others to fan the flames within your relationship could cost you the love of your life.
Researchers at Reichman University in Tel Aviv conducted studies published in The Journal of Sex Research to understand how people react when others show interest in their partners.
“Our findings highlight the circumstances under which external attention directed toward partners can erode relationship well-being instead of fostering relationship promotion,” the Reichman University team noted.
Although some people like seeing their partner get riled up over a little friendly competition, this dangerous game can start the union’s downfall.
“The desire to deter potential rivals may still exist, it may be more rooted in retaliation than in genuine efforts to maintain the relationship,” the scientists gathered.
Over 500 participants in serious relationships were exposed to situations where their partner either received flirtatious advances or had a neutral interaction with another person.
“Across three experiments, we showed that individuals perceived their partners as less sexually desirable when their partners received unsolicited attention from someone else,” the study read.
Participants rated their sexual desire to their partner, interest in maintaining the relationship and thoughts of confronting competition who hit on their lover.
People in committed relationships can perceive the flirtatious acts as threatening their bond and trigger defensive responses to prevent the potential spark.
“When partners’ likelihood of being attracted to someone else is perceived to be high, such as when they receive attention from others, people may emotionally detach from their partner and consequently reduce their relationship investment,” researchers added.
In some scenarios, the new attention received can ignite a sense of curiosity in the wanderers, which could lead to the relationship going downhill, especially if someone single is looking their way, which is often viewed as desirable.
“Contrary to commonly held beliefs, attempting to arouse interest from a current partner by seeking attention from others may backfire,” authors from the study wrote.
Despite the warning, many people have admitted to partaking in unhinged behavior to spark jealousy in their partner.
Previously reported by The Post, Allie, who goes by @disappointedchef on TikTok, revealed in a clip online how she removed every single person on her Instagram story except for her ex and posted staged photos hiding in her wardrobe with the lights off to pretend she was at a club.
“I engaged in this absolutely unhinged behavior,” she said in the clip. “I wanted him to think that I had hooked up with somebody.”
