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Communicative Responses to Jealousy (CRJ)3

Communicative Responses to Jealousy (CRJ) Test

With 52 questions completed in about 10 minutes, the Communicative Responses to Jealousy (CRJ) Test helps you examine how jealousy may shape communication, confrontation, withdrawal, control, or relationship-repair efforts. Your profile can support clearer self-reflection about recurring reactions and the ways you respond during difficult relationship situations.

Questions: 5210 minutes

Communicative Responses to Jealousy (CRJ): agreement scale card

October 2, 2025October 2, 2025Material has been updatedOctober 2, 2025Material has been published

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2,356 completions

1,990 likes

Daniel Hall Psychologist · Test reviewer

1,990 likes

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

Contact With RivalCWR

This scale measures the tendency to directly contact or confront a perceived romantic rival during episodes of jealousy.

example score9/21

9/21Moderateexample score

3 – 8Low

9 – 15Moderate

16 – 21High

A score of 9 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting some readiness to interact with a perceived rival, though it is not a dominant strategy.

ManipulationM

Measures the tendency to influence a partner’s feelings or behavior through indirect, covert, or strategic communication when jealousy arises.

example score21/28

21/28Highexample score

4 – 12Low

13 – 20Moderate

21 – 28High

A score of 21 falls in the High range, suggesting you often rely on indirect or covert tactics to shape your partner’s reactions during jealous moments.

Compensation/SubstitutionC

Measures the extent to which jealousy is handled by compensating through pleasing gestures or doing something nice for the partner.

example score18/35

18/35Moderateexample score

5 – 14Low

15 – 24Moderate

25 – 35High

A score of 18 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting you sometimes respond to jealousy by trying to restore closeness through positive actions toward your partner.

Control/RestrictionsC

Measures the tendency to respond to jealousy by monitoring a partner and imposing limits on their autonomy through communication and rules.

example score34/49

34/49Moderateexample score

7 – 20Low

21 – 34Moderate

35 – 49High

A score of 34 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme tendency to use checking, rules, or restrictions when feeling jealous.

Violence/ThreatsV

Measures the extent to which jealousy is expressed through coercive interaction, threats, or aggressive behavior toward a partner.

example score13/35

13/35Lowexample score

5 – 15Low

16 – 25Moderate

26 – 35High

A score of 13 falls in the Low range, suggesting threats or coercive/aggressive reactions to jealousy are generally infrequent in communication with a partner.

Avoidance/DenialA

Measures the tendency to avoid or deny jealousy-related concerns rather than discussing them directly.

example score26/35

26/35Avoidance/denialexample score

5 – 15Direct engagement

16 – 25Mixed approach

26 – 35Avoidance/denial

A score of 26 suggests you are more likely to cope with jealousy by minimizing, avoiding, or postponing discussion of the issue.

Distributive CommunicationDC

Measures the extent to which jealousy is communicated through accusations, arguments, and confrontational exchanges with a partner.

example score30/42

30/42High confrontationalityexample score

6 – 17Low confrontationality

18 – 29Moderate confrontationality

30 – 42High confrontationality

A score of 30 falls in the High confrontationality range, suggesting you are relatively likely to respond to jealousy with accusatory or argumentative communication.

Integrative CommunicationIC

Measures how actively a person uses open, collaborative dialogue with a partner to address jealousy-related concerns.

example score21/28

21/28Highexample score

4 – 12Low

13 – 20Moderate

21 – 28High

A score of 21 indicates a high tendency to discuss jealousy openly and work with the partner toward a shared solution.

Negative Affective ExpressionNAE

Measures how strongly a person communicates jealousy through openly expressed negative emotions (e.g., irritation, hurt, anger) toward a partner.

example score41/49

41/49High expressionexample score

7 – 21Low expression

22 – 35Moderate expression

36 – 49High expression

A score of 41 falls in the High expression range, suggesting a tendency to openly show negative feelings toward a partner when experiencing jealousy.

Active DistancingAD

Measures how strongly a person tends to pull away and reduce contact with a partner in response to jealousy.

example score22/42

22/42Moderate distancingexample score

6 – 17Low distancing

18 – 30Moderate distancing

31 – 42High distancing

A score of 22 falls in the Moderate distancing range, suggesting a noticeable tendency to withdraw or create space during jealousy rather than directly discussing the issue.

just completed the test

DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Jealousy after a trigger

41%OF USERS

People in a relationship who recently felt jealous after something like flirting, social media activity, or a sudden change in attention and want to understand their reactions.

Couples in active conflict

34%OF USERS

Partners dealing with recurring arguments about trust, boundaries, or control who want a clearer picture of their communication patterns during jealousy.

Clients in couples therapy

25%OF USERS

Individuals completing the questionnaire as part of counseling to identify their typical jealousy coping style and set specific communication goals.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Shaded area — where most people score

Dot — the average

You — your score lands on each curve after the test— your score, after the test

Contact with a rivalCwar

You?

Average14.9

Typical rangeTypical11.5 – 18.2

Possible3 – 21

ManipulationM

You?

Average11.9

Typical rangeTypical7.9 – 15.9

Possible4 – 28

Compensation/SubstitutionC

You?

Average15.6

Typical rangeTypical10 – 21.2

Possible5 – 35

Control/RestrictionsC

You?

Average18.1

Typical rangeTypical12 – 24.3

Possible7 – 49

Violence/ThreatsV

You?

Average27.5

Typical rangeTypical23.8 – 31.1

Possible5 – 35

Avoidance/DenialA

You?

Average13.3

Typical rangeTypical8.7 – 17.8

Possible5 – 35

Distributive CommunicationDC

You?

Average19.7

Typical rangeTypical14.9 – 24.4

Possible6 – 42

Integrative CommunicationIC

You?

Average16.2

Typical rangeTypical12.2 – 20.2

Possible4 – 28

Negative affective expressionNae

You?

Average24.6

Typical rangeTypical17.2 – 32.1

Possible7 – 49

Active distancingAd

You?

Average15.1

Typical rangeTypical8.8 – 21.5

Possible6 – 42

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

Jealousy is a common human emotion. In fact, most people in romantic relationships experience jealousy at times. Jealousy occurs when an individual believes that a third party (sometimes referred to as a “rival”) poses a threat to the romantic relationship in some way. Please think about occasions during the past six months when you have felt jealous in your current romantic relationship. Read each item and indicate how often you engaged in different types of behavior in response to jealousy during this time period. Please respond as honestly as possible.

- Never
- Very rarely
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very often
- Always
- Never
- Very rarely
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very often
- Always
- Never
- Very rarely
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very often
- Always

These are 3 of the 52 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

Communicative Responses to Jealousy (CRJ) Test - Description and methodology of the test

close relationships

jealousy

For readers examining how jealousy can alter a close relationship, the Communicative Responses to Jealousy (CRJ) Test offers a structured way to review personal reactions rather than focus only on the emotion itself. It is useful for identifying jealousy communication patterns across confrontation, withdrawal, control, repair, and emotional expression, giving self-reflection a clearer shape.

What This Assessment Explores

Reported reactions toward partners or rivals form these jealousy response styles:

Contact With Rival (3-21) shows interaction: Low 3-8, Moderate 9-15, High 16-21; Manipulation (4-28) shows influence: Low 4-12, Moderate 13-20, High 21-28.
Compensation/Substitution (5-35) shows repair: Low 5-14, Moderate 15-24, High 25-35; Control/Restrictions (7-49) shows monitoring: Low 7-20, Moderate 21-34, High 35-49.
Violence/Threats (5-35) shows aggression: Low 5-15, Moderate 16-25, High 26-35; Avoidance/Denial (5-35) shows evasion: Direct engagement 5-15, Mixed approach 16-25, Avoidance/denial 26-35.
Distributive Communication (6-42) shows quarrels: Low confrontationality 6-17, Moderate 18-29, High 30-42; Integrative Communication (4-28) shows dialogue: Low 4-12, Moderate 13-20, High 21-28.
Negative Affective Expression (7-49) shows emotion: Low expression 7-21, Moderate 22-35, High 36-49; Active Distancing (6-42) shows withdrawal: Low distancing 6-17, Moderate 18-30, High 31-42.

Methodology and Scientific Basis

Each item uses a seven-point frequency response from Never to Always. Relevant answers are summarized into separate scale scores, and the result screen places each score within its displayed range and band. This format captures how often a person reports a reaction, not whether that reaction is justified or effective.

The questionnaire is conceptually consistent with Communicative Responses to Jealousy (CRJ), including the 2012 adaptation study by Furmanov and Vergeychik and Guerrero and colleagues’ 1995 and 2011 work. It is not an adaptation of those published instruments. Their research supplies conceptual and measurement context; this online version should not be assumed to reproduce the original samples, norms, or validation procedures.

Interpret scores comparatively: a high result indicates more frequent endorsement of that response pattern, while a low result indicates less frequent endorsement within the stated range. Current conflict, memory, self-awareness, and the wish to present oneself favorably can affect answers. The profile can clarify tendencies, but it cannot explain every cause or describe a relationship in full. It can help you examine romantic jealousy responses alongside specific situations and communication goals.

Author: Clyde Hendrick, Susan S. Hendrick

Literature:

Furmanov, Igor A., and Anastasiya O. Vergeychik. (2012). Behavioural Tactics in Situations of Experiencing Jealousy: Adaptation of the Communicative Responses to Jealousy Method. Psychological Journal, no. 1-2 (31-32), 81-89.
Guerrero, Laura K., Peter A. Andersen, Peter F. Jorgensen, Brian H. Spitzberg, and Susan V. Eloy. (1995). Coping with the Green-Eyed Monster: Conceptualizing and Measuring Communicative Responses to Romantic Jealousy. Western Journal of Communication, 59(4), 270-304. 10.1080/10570319509374523
Guerrero, Laura K., Annegret F. Hannawa, and Elizabeth A. Babin. (2011). The Communicative Responses to Jealousy Scale: Revision, Empirical Validation, and Associations with Relational Satisfaction. Communication Methods and Measures, 5(3), 223-249. 10.1080/19312458.2011.596993

Updated: 2025-10-02