Othello is a play by Shakespear. In this tragedy, the main character Othello is consumed by jealousy, and this leads to the tragic ending which sees Othello killing his wife, Desdemona and himself.
The Othello Syndrome is named after the character Othello to reflect the obsessive nature of jealousy. It therefore indicates a person who experiences extreme and irrational jealousy, regardless of evidence of betrayal or not.
This is recognised as a mental illness, under the category “delusional disorder”. To be diagnosed formally, the delusion needs to be present for at least a month, without any other psychotic symptoms. The delusion tends to persist despite clear evidence presented to demonstrate otherwise.
There are various types of delusions:
- Persecutory: belief that someone is going to be harmed,
- Referential: belief that things being said, or done are directed to someone,
- Grandiose: belief that someone has above average capability,
- Erotomatic: belief that someone has the romantic attention from other(s),
- Delusional jealousy: belief that someone’s partner is unfaithful,
- Nihilistic: belief that a disaster is about to happen,
- Somatic: belief which refer to the body or its function.
The Othello syndrome is another name for delusional jealousy. It can stem from a biological cause such as with some neurological conditions, or substance abuse. It can also stem from psychological factors such as low self-esteem or hypersensitivity personality. And it can stem from social factors such as isolation, envy, suspicion or loneliness.
This syndrome remains rare as a diagnosed disorder, with only an estimated prevalence of 0.02% in the global population. From the data available which only includes reported cases, anyone from 18 years to 90 years can be affected, with the average age to start showing symptoms being 40. Male population seems more affected by the Othello syndrome.
Although the Othello Syndrome is relatively rare, jealousy is a common feeling. Jealousy is an emotional state when an individual perceives a threat to something that is of value to them which could be a person, a bond or relationship, or anything else. Jealousy is often the reflection of feelings of insecurity, fear or even envy. The fear of losing someone or something of value triggers emotional distress, possessiveness, resentment, and sometimes anger.
The best way to address jealousy is to look into the trigger of the emotional response, understand what causes the trigger and work on self-awareness.
The work oneself-awareness can evolve around understanding:
- The reason for feeling insecure,
- The reason for having a low-self-esteem,
- The attachment style or blueprint to form relationships,
- The perception of threat or a competitive environment,
- The history of past betrayals where trust was broken,
- The social factors and social norms which individual cultural or religious beliefs can influence.
Jealousy can be destructive if not managed and will end up damaging relationships. A little bit of jealousy is good to maintain a relationship outside the boundaries of “taking things for granted”.
Having the courage to face our own fears and explore the causes of what can trigger an emotional response such as jealousy is very brave and demanding. This work is often best when supported by therapy because it helps the process of exploration where the person can be held and work without fear judgement.
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