No. 321 · Your own mind · Human Nature and Judgement
Envy and Jealousy Tendency
Seeing what others have can make us want things we never needed.
In the Almanac
“A Diamond Is Forever”, 1938–1947 · “Instagram”, 2019–2021
Both stories in full, three ways to use it and where it misleads.
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Questions
What is Envy and Jealousy Tendency?
The tendency to envy or jealousy is our inclination to feel discontent when we see others' advantages, possessions or success. It can override reason, pushing us to want things because others have them rather than because they truly fit our needs, and marketers have long used it to drive demand.
How do you use Envy and Jealousy Tendency?
When envy strikes, map the full picture: what exactly do you envy, and what trade-offs did the other person make to get it? Practise gratitude for what you have, and use envy as information about what you value, turning it into motivation for your own goals rather than resentment.
When does Envy and Jealousy Tendency matter?
Envy and Jealousy Tendency is one of the 31 mental models for your own mind, the situations where you ask: Is my own thinking leading me astray? Within that, it belongs to “Feelings that steer you”, alongside Deprival-Superreaction Tendency, Fear and Freudian Slip.
What is an example of Envy and Jealousy Tendency?
Two stories show it at work: A Diamond Is Forever (1938–1947) and Instagram (2019–2021). Both are told in full in The Mental Models Daily Almanac, which has two stories for each of its 365 models.
Which mental models are related to Envy and Jealousy Tendency?
Relativity, Social Proof and Grass is Greener Mentality. Envy and Jealousy Tendency itself comes from human nature and judgement.