What is the difference between envy and jealousy according to Rob Kurzban?

Rob Kurzban described jealousy as a defence. It is built to detect a threat to a relationship, romantic or a friendship, and to take steps against that threat. Envy is closer to an opportunity detector. It fixes attention on someone doing better than you and pushes you to strive harder, copy what worked or sometimes undermine them. Kurzban pointed to the Ten Commandments' ban on coveting as evidence that envy is universal rather than invented by each culture.

• Kurzban suggested that persuading rivals that jealousy is a pathology can be a way to lower their guard.
• Kurzban called jealousy between friends, such as fearing demotion from best friend, wildly understudied.

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on Modern Wisdom (2026-10-29). Read the whole episode summary →

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