Psychologists Gary Pfeiffer and Paul Wong described jealousy in 1989 as a phenomenon with three components: a cognitive one (thoughts and interpretations about a possible threat), an emotional one (the unease or distress it brings up), and a behavioral one (checking, asking, monitoring). This test measures all three together.
- Low: you trust the relationship without needing to check on it constantly.
- Moderate: specific situations trigger doubt now and then, without being a dominant pattern.
- High: doubt, checking, or unease shape a good part of the relationship.
15 statements, about 3-4 minutes. Think about your usual pattern in the relationship, not one recent, isolated episode.
All possible results
Low Jealousy
You trust the relationship without needing to check on it constantly. Doubt doesn't seem to shape your day-to-day as a couple.
Read more about Low Jealousy
"Pfeiffer and Wong describe jealousy as a combination of thought, emotion, and behavior: suspecting, feeling uneasy, and checking. When all three components are low, trust holds up the relationship without any need for monitoring."
What this score means
Your answers don't show a pattern of suspicion, unease, or ongoing checking in the relationship. You might feel an occasional pang of insecurity, as is only human, but it doesn't seem to shape how you show up as a couple.
How it shows up day to day
- You don't feel the need to check your partner's phone or social media.
- An ambiguous comment doesn't stay on your mind for hours.
- You feel fully happy when your partner makes plans that don't include you.
An important clarification
This result is orientation-only and informational, inspired by Gary Pfeiffer and Paul Wong's (1989) model of jealousy: it isn't a diagnosis and doesn't replace guidance from a qualified professional.
Moderate Jealousy
Specific situations (an ex, an ambiguous comment) trigger doubt now and then, without it being a dominant pattern in the relationship.
Read more about Moderate Jealousy
"A certain degree of jealousy is practically universal in romantic relationships: what matters isn't feeling it occasionally, it's how often and how intensely it takes hold."
What this score means
Your answers show some activation of doubt or unease in specific situations (an ex, a comparison, an ambiguous comment), without reaching a sustained pattern of monitoring or constant checking.
How it shows up day to day
- You feel some tension in specific situations, rather than across the board.
- You sometimes find it hard not to dwell on a plan your partner made without you, even if that's not the norm.
- You notice the doubt when it shows up, without it dominating the relationship as a whole.
An important clarification
This result is orientation-only and informational, inspired by Gary Pfeiffer and Paul Wong's (1989) model of jealousy: it isn't a diagnosis and doesn't replace guidance from a qualified professional.
High Jealousy
Doubt, checking, or unease seem to shape a good part of how you experience the relationship.
Read more about High Jealousy
"When the behavioral component of jealousy (checking, asking, monitoring) becomes constant, it tends to produce the opposite of the intended effect: instead of reassuring, it erodes the very trust it's trying to protect."
What this score means
Your answers show a sustained pattern across the three components Pfeiffer and Wong describe: you read ambiguous signals as a threat (cognitive), you feel uneasy often (emotional), and you feel the need to check or ask (behavioral).
How it shows up day to day
- You find it hard to fully trust your partner when they're not with you.
- You check, or feel tempted to check, your partner's phone or social media.
- An ambiguous comment can stay on your mind for hours.
An important clarification
This result is orientation-only and informational, inspired by Gary Pfeiffer and Paul Wong's (1989) model of jealousy: it isn't a diagnosis and doesn't replace guidance from a qualified professional. If this pattern is causing significant distress or affecting the relationship, couples or individual therapy can help work through it in depth.
Frequently asked questions
Is feeling jealous every once in a while always a problem?
No. A low degree of occasional jealousy is practically universal in romantic relationships. What matters is the frequency, the intensity, and whether it shapes your day-to-day, not the total absence of the feeling.
What's the difference between jealousy and distrust?
They're related, but not the same: jealousy is the response (thought, emotion, behavior) to a perceived threat to the relationship, while distrust is an underlying belief about whether the other person can be trusted at all.
Does a high score mean my partner is cheating on me?
No. This test measures your jealousy pattern, not your partner's actual behavior. Jealousy can run high with no real cause at all, and low even when a real one exists.
Is this test reliable?
It's an orientation-only, informational approximation inspired by the Pfeiffer and Wong (1989) model, not a validated clinical instrument. To work through this pattern in depth, the recommended step is guidance from a professional.
How long does the test take?
Between 3 and 4 minutes: 15 statements with five answer options each.
Is it free?
Yes, it's completely free: no sign-up or payment needed to take the test and see your result.