Retroactive jealousy is a psychological condition where an individual becomes preoccupied with their partners past romantic and sexual experiences. It is a form of jealousy that arises when an individual perceives someone or something else as a threat to their relationship. Retroactive jealousy is different from regular jealousy because it is focused on the past, rather than things happening in the present.
Some characteristics of retroactive jealousy include obsessive, intrusive, and persistent thoughts and/or compulsive behaviors. It can trigger negative thoughts and violent behaviors towards the partner, and make the individual paranoid. Retroactive jealousy can be a manifestation of insecurity, low self-esteem, insecure attachment styles, past experiences of infidelity, and substance use.
Individuals with retroactive jealousy may engage in tactics to gain information about their partner's past, such as constant questioning about past relationships, conducting internet searches on exes, following past partners on social media, or creating fake profiles to gain access to information.
Retroactive jealousy can be treated through therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy.
