Envy often arises when we encounter someone who possesses traits or benefits that we consider benchmarks of success and status.

The Dynamics of Envy

Envy often arises when we encounter someone who possesses traits or benefits that we consider benchmarks of success and status. Whether it is about intellectual capabilities, aesthetic appeal, or material achievements, people unconsciously compare their lives with those around them. This dynamic is especially noticeable in social circles, where constant comparison of achievements becomes almost automatic.

The primary mechanism behind the emergence of envy is connected to a sense of deficiency: when we see that others have something we lack, an inner feeling of injustice and a desire to possess that same attribute arises. This comparison can occur both in the broader society and within smaller family circles—even among close relatives, where differences in opportunities become especially tangible.

Ultimately, envy is a signal of our internal search for self-affirmation and recognition, reflecting deep social and personal needs. By understanding the nature of envy, one can learn to redirect its energy towards self-improvement rather than feeling inadequate.

What usually becomes the object of envy, and what are the underlying reasons for this feeling in people?

The main object of envy for people is those qualities or benefits that are considered markers of success and status. Envy most often arises when a person sees someone possessing intellectual, aesthetic, or material advantages that they themselves lack. For example, according to one source, “often we envy others because they are smarter or more attractive than we are, have a better car or a more attractive wife, etc.” This example clearly indicates that the object of envy can be external attractiveness and intelligence as well as material values that people perceive as the measure of success.

Moreover, envy occurs against the background of social comparison. As noted in another source, “for envy to arise, someone else must have what the envious person does not. Envy implies at least two people: one having and the other lacking. Envy towards material values arises under the condition that social differences are present...” This underscores that the key factor is the disparity in possessing something significant to the individual, specifically the ability to compare oneself with others. This comparison can occur within the same social circle or within a family, where it is said that “the greatest envy exists between brothers.”

Thus, the reason for envy in people often stems from a sense of deficiency or inequality relative to others, whether in intellectual, aesthetic, or material terms. Discovering in others something that seems essential for life satisfaction generates a feeling of discontent and a desire to have the same. This feeling is especially intense in social groups where people actively compare their achievements and opportunities with those of others.

Supporting citation(s):
"But this is just one of the many manifestations of envy. Often we envy others because they are smarter or more attractive than we are, have a better car or a more attractive wife, etc. Envy is a grave sin." (source: link txt)

"One of the pathologies typical of our time is envy. For envy to arise, someone else must have what the envious person does not. Envy implies at least two people: one has it, the other does not. Envy towards material values arises provided that there are social differences significant enough to evoke envy." (source: link txt)

"Between people who barely know each other, envy cannot exist... However, the greatest envy exists between brothers." (source: link txt)