Jealousy and envy

Envy occurs when we lack a desired attribute enjoyed by another.

Jealousy occurs when something we already possess (usually a special relationship) is

threatened by a third person

And so envy is a two-person situation whereas jealousy is a three-person situation.

Envy is a reaction to lacking something. Jealousy is a reaction to the threat of losing
something (usually someone).

This seems straightforward, and so why the confusion?

One problem is an unfortunate sematic ambiguity with the word “jealousy” (but NOT
with the word “envy”). If you ask people to describe a situation in which they felt
jealous, they are as likely to describe an experience of envy (e.g., "I wished I had my
friend's good looks") as of jealousy (e.g., "my girlfriend danced with an attractive
guy"). Naturally, this creates a sense that jealousy and envy are very similar—even
though they are actually quite different.

Therefore, when someone says, “I’m feeling jealous,” you don’t know whether he or
she is experiencing an envy situation or a jealousy situation—unless more context is
provided (e.g., “I felt jealous when I saw my girlfriend dancing with the attractive
guy”).

The second problem is that envy and jealousy often travel together. What kind of rival
to your partner’s affections is likely to create jealousy? It is the rival with
characteristics that you are also likely to envy—that is, the attractive rival.

This means that when you are feeling jealous, you are often feeling envious as well.

And yet envy and jealousy are not the same emotions. Envy, as unpleasant as it can be,
usually doesn’t contain a sense of betrayal and resultant outrage, for example.
Jealousy need not contain an acute sense of inferiority (if the rival is not enviable).