Othello's syndrome, the reasons for its formation and symptoms of manifestation of pathological jealousy. The article provides recommendations for men and women to get rid of inadequate attitudes towards their partners. Othello's syndrome is pathological jealousy in the highest form of its manifestation, in which, due to distrust of the chosen one, a murder or an attempt to settle scores with one's own life can occur. Considering this behavior inappropriate, many experts call it a psychopathic tendency and a type of insanity. It is very difficult to live with such a problem, because in this case there can be no talk of any happy marriage.
Causes of Othello's Syndrome
The origins of the formation of pathological jealousy usually lie in the following provoking factors:
- Low self-esteem … A person who is not sure of his physical attractiveness and financial viability may be jealous of a partner of imaginary or real rivals with great opportunities.
- Sense of ownership … Selfish natures consider their chosen ones not as self-sufficient individuals, but as items for personal use. Consequently, they position them as people without the right to communicate with anyone, even if it happens without the slightest hint of flirting.
- Imbalance … Temperament also affects the formation of Othello's syndrome in a person. In exceptional cases, the phlegmatic person will harass his soul mate with suspicion. Attacks of unreasonable jealousy most often occur in choleric people who are prone to frequent outbursts of anger.
- Wrong parenting model … If a boy or girl has seen uncontrollable jealousy on the part of the parents, then they may, as adults, consider this behavior the norm in their family life.
- Fear of becoming a laughing stock … It seems to some suspicious individuals that everyone is vigorously discussing their couple behind their backs. They see universal condemnation of the windy soulmate when people mock their cuckold spouse.
- Effective partner … In this case, the stereotype is triggered that a beautiful wife (husband) is an object for hunting on the part of the opposite sex. Pathological jealous people are also strained by the veiled expression that it is better to eat a dry crust alone than to eat a cake with friends.
- Betrayal of the second half … The betrayal of such a plan is especially difficult for men, because it significantly affects their pride. Having forgiven the soul mate, the partner will always suspect her of all mortal sins in the future.
- Psychosis … A deviation of this kind can no longer be attributed to the property and manifestation of temperament. We are already talking about a serious pathology, which can be either congenital or acquired anomaly. Especially dangerous is alcoholic psychosis, in which a pathological jealous person literally sees in every stranger a potential or real rival.
- Addiction … Under the influence of intoxicating substances, a person ceases to adequately assess reality. Most murders due to unfounded jealousy are committed by people with a voiced addiction.
- Mental illness … First of all, this applies to schizophrenia and paranoia, when a person sees something that does not exist in reality. It is enough for him to assume treason to be one hundred percent sure of it.
- Sexual dysfunction … Men who, for whatever reason, have become intimate insolvent, definitely acquire Othello's syndrome. If at the same time the spouse is young and good-looking, then she is guaranteed to become the subject of surveillance and constant scandals motivated by jealousy.
Such reasons for the formation of Othello's syndrome in no way justify people with such a model of behavior. Their partners should not suffer from the pathological jealousy of the chosen one, if they do not deserve a negative attitude towards themselves.
Varieties of Othello's syndrome
Not all manifestations of this pathology are the same in terms of their degree of danger. Psychologists have identified 5 types of a similar syndrome, which look like this:
- Jealousy is a game … With this family model of behavior, the spouses enter into a mutual agreement. A man feigned indignation when strangers compliment his beloved. However, deep down, he is proud of the increased attention to his beautiful wife. In turn, the spouse can tickle her nerves and even defiantly beat the dishes if a lady was making eyes at her chosen one. In this case, the lovers are happy with everything in their relationship, because such a reaction is the main component in the role-playing games of this couple. After an artificially provoked outbreak of jealousy, the husband and wife spend a passionate night, completely forgetting about the cause of the scandal.
- Jealousy-surveillance … Wanting to play detectives, the spouses (or one of them) arrange the pursuit of their soulmate. At the same time, the movements of the chosen one are calculated, his phone and pockets are carefully studied. The spouses clearly know the passwords of all social networks of a loved one and check them periodically. It is definitely ugly to behave this way, but the essence of surveillance jealousy is that both partners are aware of the current events.
- Stormy jealousy … In this case, we will talk about African passions, when, on the basis of pathological jealousy, literally all objects break in the house. It can be extremely difficult to stop a raging spouse, because at this moment he does not see or hear anyone around him. For a flash of such rage, a person with Othello's syndrome needs only a smile, which the other half gave to a representative of the opposite sex.
- Obsessive jealousy … It also manifests itself very rapidly, but has a slightly different course of pathology. A person perfectly understands the essence of his problem and the reasons for its occurrence. He is afraid of the betrayal of his chosen one, realizing in his soul all the groundlessness of suspicions artificially created in the imagination.
- Jealousy-tyranny … In such a relationship, one of the spouses is domineering and cruel. He considers his chosen one to be property, which has no right to have acquaintances among the representatives of the opposite sex. The absurdity of the situation reaches the point that the victim is prohibited from communicating even with relatives, because in such contacts the tyrant sees fertile ground for betrayal.
Manifestations of Othello syndrome in humans
A pathological jealous person can be determined even by a person who is far from psychology. Calculate it really according to the following personality characteristics and behavioral model:
- Distorted logic … It is useless to prove to a person with Othello's syndrome the purity of their thoughts. The more extensive the justifications for innocence of adultery are, the more the pathological jealous person will be convinced of the validity of far-fetched suspicions. At the same time, he reflects on the illogical scheme that the cheater is simply cleverly conspiratorial and secretly laughs at the cuckold spouse.
- Tight control … A step to the left, a step to the right - shooting. A joke like this is no longer funny when it comes to a person with Othello's syndrome. He literally cuts off oxygen to his life partner. He, in any situation, is deprived of the right to personal space and expression of his own opinion.
- Interrogation of acquaintances … A pathological jealous person conducts a systematic investigation, not only tormenting his soul mate, but also her immediate environment. By building a conversation with the help of trap questions, he sometimes gets some information, which he then misinterprets.
- Paranoid ideas … Everyone is cheating on each other, except for me, the ideal - the opinion of a person with Othello syndrome about other people. He not only believes that his life partner will be unfaithful to him, he firmly believes in a similar prospect for the development of family life.
- Questions about fidelity … In this case, we are not talking about tediousness, because they are asked in an aggressive manner. Then death threats may follow if the other half only dares to think about going to the left. Such dialogues become daily, and after a couple of years of married life they overlap any other style of communication.
- Physical aggression … The pathological jealous person quite often translates his intentions into reality. This is often reflected in the fact that the husband begins to brutally beat his wife. The victim of a tyrant endures such an attitude for a long time, but in the end it is forced to seek help from law enforcement agencies.
Psychological advice for Othello syndrome
In order not to lose your loved one, who will not endure moral and physical torture for a long time, it is necessary to engage in self-rehabilitation.
Recommendations of psychologists for women
Overly suspicious ladies should try to sort out the following questions to help them find peace of mind:
- Refusal of comparisons … Othello syndrome in women is often formed from insecurity about their attractiveness. This is especially evident if their chosen one is liked by many colleagues-beauties. In order not to torment yourself with thoughts of a possible office romance, you need to believe in yourself and your uniqueness. If a man has already decided on his choice, then in the absence of sexual promiscuity, he will not jeopardize the well-being of his own family. Many handsome men are able to ignore the claims of spectacular coquettes if a beloved and self-sufficient woman is waiting for them at home, who takes care of herself.
- Organization of romantic evenings … Many men do not want to stay late at work or seek adventures on the side if they know about a possible pleasant surprise from a desired spouse. First, the pride of the chosen one, whose attention is so dear, will be satisfied. Secondly, he will spend his free time with his wife, not suspecting the fact that he automatically finds himself under her jealous supervision.
- Expanding personal space … Spying on her husband will only help to safely lead the marriage to divorce. Not a single representative of the stronger sex will tolerate such an attitude towards himself from even a woman dear to her heart. Instead of persecuting your spouse, you need to take up your own development. You should once and for all forget about the false statement that men do not like smart ladies. They will like an interesting companion with a great sense of humor much more than a homebody with a limited outlook. You can start attending any psychological trainings and thematic events. Over time, it is recommended to connect your spouse to this activity, in order to thus organize joint leisure with the benefit of business.
If the suspicions of a woman with Othello's syndrome are confirmed by the real fact of infidelity, then it is necessary to immediately file for divorce. Psychologists insist that with repeated stress of such a plan, the spouse can lose his mind and cause physical harm to her husband. Lovelaces should not be life companions of pathologically jealous women, because this is completely contrary to logic.
Expert advice for men
The number of avengers obsessed with distrust of their spouses is growing rapidly. Psychologists are concerned about this problem and suggest that the stronger sex should deal with it as follows:
- Familiarization with statistics … Research data clearly show an upward trend among modern Othello cardiovascular diseases. If they do not feel sorry for the 15 years of their lives stolen from themselves, then they can safely continue to be jealous of their partner for every pillar.
- Prospects analysis … Representatives of the stronger sex should reflect at their leisure about what awaits them in the future. The forecasts in this case are sad, because the picture of the life of an elderly and lonely person is emerging. Children also may not forgive their parent for bullying their mother on the basis of groundless jealousy.
- A beautiful woman is not part of the image … Respectable men need to forget that a spectacular life companion is an indicator of their prosperous life in front of friends and colleagues. When you advertise it as a profitable acquisition, you should not be surprised that such value can also try to get it for your own use. Maximum respect for your wife will show all applicants for her attention and place in bed that this is not a thing, but a dear person. As a result, the reason for jealousy will disappear by itself along with the competitors.
- Restriction or complete rejection of alcoholic beverages … Treatment of Othello syndrome in men often depends on the elimination of alcoholism from them at any stage of its development. It is under the influence of the green serpent that some drunkards begin to teach their women with their fists in order to instill in them integrity in the present and in the future.
Men who are jealous should think about the advisability of starting a family and having children until they get rid of all the side effects of Othello's syndrome. Exclusively after the help of a narcologist and psychiatrist, there is a guarantee of the existence of a happy and stable marriage for former mistrustful persons.
Tips for Jealous Family and Friends
From the aggression of such a person, first of all, his immediate environment suffers. The wife is subjected to daily persecution, and such a person torments acquaintances with heart-to-heart conversations in the form of interrogation. To help a person who is not indifferent, you need to take the following measures:
- Heart-to-heart conversation … It is necessary in a calm atmosphere with the whole family to explain to the pathological jealous person that his suspicions are groundless. At the same time, one should be prepared for violent indignation on his part and repeated accusations towards the other half. One should react to such a tantrum in a cold-blooded manner and respond with arguments such as "can you change?" or "your couple can only be envied."
- Advice to seek help from a specialist … It is best to do this to the parents of the jealous person, who are neutral in this matter. Such a request from the victim of a person with Othello's syndrome will only lead him into another state of fury.
- Use of extreme measures … If close people see all the harbingers of impending disaster, then you need to contact the law enforcement agencies. Passive observation of the lawlessness of a pathological jealous person is the same crime as his inappropriate behavior.
The use of medications for acute psychosis
If the problem has gone too far, then drug therapy is no longer necessary. For this, the following medicines are used:
- Antidepressants … They are prescribed for obsessive jealousy, when the patient himself understands the reality of losing his family. He is usually given Afobazol (a mild drug), Doxepin (a sedative drug), or Prozac (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor).
- Antipsychotic drugs … If the problem is not limited to depression, but is accompanied by schizophrenia, then the doctor prescribes similar medications in the form of "Aminazin" (pills), "Speridan" (tablets), "Haloperidol" (solution for injection), "Piportil" (oral drops).
- Remedies for alcoholism … In case of pathological jealousy against the background of withdrawal symptoms, doctors recommend using both homeopathy ("Proproten 100") and tablets to suppress the synthesis of acetaldehydrogenase ("Disulfiram" and "Cyaminade").
Consequences of the Othello complex
The development of any pathology has its own logical ending, which in most cases is a tragic outcome of events:
- Divorce … Few people like to feel the surveillance and mistrust on the part of a loved one. In some situations, the victim of arbitrariness triggers a spirit of contradiction, in which one wants to be better sinful than reputed. Many families break up precisely because of the pathological jealousy of one of the spouses without the slightest reason.
- Compulsory treatment … Very often Othello's syndrome in men occurs as a consequence of the withdrawal affect. By a court decision, after a woman's application has been submitted, her spouse is prescribed antipsychotic therapy. If a violent personality does not want to undergo such treatment, it is carried out compulsorily under the control of law enforcement agencies.
- The crime … Household scandals motivated by pathological jealousy can end tragically one day, rather than a fine one. In this case, stabbing is the leader in the criminal chronicle, when a person who has lost her temper inflicts injuries on her soulmate that are incompatible with life.
- Suicide … The Othello complex is dangerous in that it completely destroys the integrity of a person's personality. With its vivid manifestation, a delusional state arises, in which there may be a desire to commit suicide due to the imaginary betrayal of a loved one.
Attention! All the listed consequences of the Othello complex indicate that we are talking about a serious psychosis with paranoid ideas. In some cases, it cannot be cured, because many people with this problem do not consider themselves to be inadequate individuals. How to get rid of the Othello complex - watch the video:
Pathological jealousy is a problem that can then become a manifestation of deviant behavior. With self-respect and a desire to save the family, it is necessary to urgently eliminate all its manifestations. Otherwise, the spouses will definitely break up or a crime will occur on the basis of delusional inferences.
