Jealousy is one of the most common and prevalent human emotions, and it can occur at just about any age or time in our lives.
If you are talking with or dating a guy who is seemingly trying to make you jealous, you may be wondering why.
A guy will typically attempt to make you jealous if he is interested in you, even if you are taken and already committed to someone else.
Understanding why it is that a guy may be trying to make you jealous is a way for you to better understand the dynamic of your relationship and what it may mean for you.
When you know the signs that indicate a guy is interested in you, you can then determine if he is a partner that is right for your needs.
He wants to test you
One of the biggest reasons a guy will attempt to make a new woman jealous is to test her.
While this sounds manipulative (and it can be), it is typically hardwired into the biology of both men and women.
A man may attempt to make a woman jealous to test whether or not she is insecure or if she is independent and not too clingy.
Men who test women in this way are typically seeking a mate who is independent and not bothered by their own independence.
A man will be much more attracted to a mate who does not make him feel crowded, suffocated, or limited in any capacity.
He wants to gauge your relationship
Another reason a man is apt to make you jealous is to determine what type of relationship he should pursue with you – if any.
Some men may test women to see if they are girlfriends, hookups, or even potential wife and long-term partner material.
He may attempt to gauge your relationship by making you jealous to see how you react, which will in turn indicate whether or not you are compatible with one another.
He is still immature
A common cause of jealousy in an adult relationship is immaturity.
If your guy is still immature, lacking dating experience, or just beginning to date for the first time, he is more likely to experience a wide range of feelings, including jealousy.
Because jealousy is a normal and common emotion, it is not out of the realm of possibilities that when you are dating a guy who is new to the dating pool, he is much more likely to feel jealousy, thus causing him to attempt to make you jealous in retaliation.
If your guy has never dated before or if he is new to serious relationships, he may believe it is in his best interest to attempt to make you jealous, even after you are committed to one another.
If this is the case, it is imperative to have a discussion with your partner about his actions and behaviors, especially as they become detrimental to your relationship or if they begin to trigger feelings of resentment.
It is also important to consider if you are ready for a relationship with a guy who is new to dating or a guy who is still immature in terms of his own emotions and feelings.
If you believe that your guy is immature and not yet ready for a relationship with you, it is best to break it off sooner rather than later.
A guy who is new to dating or sex altogether has a propensity to become much more attached to women than those who are experienced in that realm.
He’s a player
One reason a guy may attempt to make you jealous is that he is simply a player and has no motivation or drive to enter into a committed relationship.
It is not always easy to tell whether a guy is a player or if he’s a smooth talker who has genuine feelings for you.
The best way to overcome this hurdle is to be direct.
Oftentimes, men who are playboys and who enjoy spending time with numerous partners will be caught off guard if they are asked a direct question regarding commitment and relationship wants or needs.
You can easily distinguish if a guy is interested in a real relationship or just sex simply by asking him directly and in person.
And we mean it when we say in person is best – avoid using texting or even phone calls as these are not as direct and personal.
Using texts and phone calls does not provide you with the ability to observe his facial expressions and initial responses to questions pertaining to your relationship and emotional connection.
He’s insecure
If you notice that your man has recently been trying to make you jealous out of nowhere, he may be struggling with some insecurities himself.
If your man is insecure or if he simply wants to know if he still has “it” in him, he may attempt to make you jealous to grab your attention.
When you have been in a committed long-term relationship with your guy and he attempts to make you jealous, it is best to take a step back to reflect on why he may be doing so and what could be causing this.
If you are struggling in your relationship or if you are going through a rocky period, your man may attempt to make you jealous to rekindle the romance and reignite the flame.
If you notice that your man is trying to make you jealous, and you don’t know why then consider the current state and health of your relationship overall.
Are there tensions and issues that have gone unaddressed and unresolved for months or even years?
Is there tension building up between you and your partner, leading to a lack of sex and physical intimacy?
If so, it may be time to take a step back to reflect on what it is that your man is trying to tell you when he is trying to make you jealous.
If you do believe that your man is simply insecure and trying to repair the relationship, it is essential to approach the topic in a positive and pleasant manner.
Addressing your guy’s potential insecurities without tact can lead to causing even more destruction to your relationship.
Always remain calm, approachable, and understanding whenever you are tackling sensitive topics such as self-esteem, self-confidence, and insecurity with your man.
He is clueless
Well, it’s true. It can happen. A man can be entirely clueless and have no idea that he’s making his partner jealous.
Not every guy is out making women jealous out of malice.
In fact, some men are simply more charming and charismatic, which may come off as flirting or as an attempt to make you jealous, especially when in public and in front of others.
However, this can simply mean that the man you are dating is not as in tune with his own emotions or that he is struggling with emotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence can help someone determine whether or not another individual around them is happy, uncomfortable, or even totally turned off.
A man who is lacking in the emotional intelligence department may not know what indicators to look for to inform him that a partner is unhappy or angry with him, causing additional fights and disputes.
If you notice that your guy is always trying to make you jealous or that he always winds up in scenarios that cause you to feel jealous and insecure, consider his personality and whether or not it may be indicative of lower emotional intelligence altogether.
Lower emotional intelligence is not a dealbreaker, as it is possible for your man to learn more about proper responses and how to gauge the reactions of others around him in the future.
He is over the relationship
Although this is not always common, it is a possibility. If your man is attempting to make you jealous and wants you to feel unimportant, he may subconsciously be trying to end the relationship and sever ties with you.
While this is not a mature or honest way to handle feelings, a guy who has difficulty expressing himself or letting others down may subconsciously choose the route of attempting to make his partner jealous to break the relationship down.
If you suspect that your guy is no longer interested in pursuing a relationship and that he is only trying to make you jealous so that you will leave, it may be time to sit down and have a discussion.
Discussing your feelings and his actions openly can help you to determine whether the relationship is worth attempting to salvage and save or if it is time to cut your losses and move on to something better.
Knowing what it means when a guy tries to make you jealous is helpful whether you intend to remain friends or if you have a romantic or physical attraction to him.
When you know what to look for in a jealous man and you know what signs indicate that he is interested in you, you can choose to make the first move or pursue the relationship in any manner you wish.
Signs a guy is trying to make you jealous
Men attempt to make women jealous for a variety of reasons.
From liking a woman’s presence to wanting to grab her attention for any number of reasons, a guy may attempt to make you jealous over just about anything.
Knowing the signs that a guy is trying to make you jealous can help you to better prepare an appropriate response or reaction.
Some common signs that a guy is trying to make you jealous include:
- He spends time with other girls who he may or may not have a romantic and sexual interest in.
- He avoids texting you back immediately and instead, makes you wait for his response.
- Avoiding your phone calls or acting as if he is unavailable and preoccupied with alternative plans and people.
- Complimenting your friends and other females when you are around him.
- Making plans only to suddenly break them off entirely.
- Staying in touch with exes and discussing his exes in front of you.
