Anna Walsh, performed by Jaz Sinclair, within the film When the Bough Breaks (2016) is a shy young lady eager to be of assistance to a couple who desires the use of a “surrogate”.  Anna presents as a logical, insightful individual who is articulate in communicating the necessary boundaries required to become a gestational carrier.  She has an unwavering certainty regarding her decision; and, as a result, is the comfortable and frankly, “perfect” candidate for John and Laura Taylor performed by Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall to employ on their birthing journey.  Anna’s past abandonment, abuse and trauma are unbeknown to the Taylor’s.  Her history of emotional deprivation coupled with spending time with the happy couple evokes feelings of envy within Anna that activates her to attempt to gain control of her life and desire a world that belong to others.

Contemplation and the recognition of envy have occurred for thousands of years amongst intellectuals, religious leaders, and “Amongst the ancients, even the gods could be envious” (Cowan-Jenssen, 2011, p. 43). Envy has been conceptualized as an emotion that arises through frustration one feels when one covets another’s “advantages, successes, possessions, etc.” (Dictionary.com).  When envy emerges, there is an “instantaneous recognition that someone else is more fortunate than you, registers inequality in such a way as to threaten…” (Ferguson, F., 2002 p. 890).  The envious person perceives envied objects, successes or attributes as a challenge to achieve, and when unable to possess, equals an injury to one’s self-concept and elicits feelings of shame (Acosta, R. 2007 p. 3). 

Such envious emotions manifest when comparisons are made between the self and others.  There is “the ‘recognition’, phantasied or factual, of something good withheld” (Meredith-Owen, 2008 p. 462).  The envious person fails to obtain what is desired; yet, feels “entitled to all that is good and valuable” (Acosta, R., 2007 page 3).  Though envy is thought to be a common human affect, it tends to be an emotion that is frowned upon, even an emotion that is considered dangerous.  Envy has consistently been referred to as a deadly sin, implying that malicious tendencies are an essential element” (Lange & Crusius, 2014 p. 285).  Thus, individuals are likely to acknowledge jealousy feelings that are “connected with experiences of suspiciousness, rejection, hostility, anger at others, fear of loss and hurt” (Purshouse, 2004, p 182) and experience envy in secret, often as a hidden or disguised feeling where shame often follows (Cowan-Jennsen, 2011 p. 43). 

When envy surfaces, this affect arouses feelings of discomfort.  These emotions can serve as a motivator to create an even level between the desired and the envied (Lange & Crusius (2015 p. 286) that closes the feeling of lack that something is missing.  This course aids the envier to feel better and reduce frustration of deficiency (Cowan-Jennsen, 2011, p. 45).  Predominate in literature pertaining to envy are a host of descriptions that envy in concert with its destructive qualities can create a fertile ground for criminal assaults (Regis, A. 2007 page 2).  Current literature challenges mental health professionals to consider that envy can range from mild to intense and can vary in benevolence and malicious quality. Rather, there may be the presence of various types of envy: benign and malicious envy.

 Envious states may lack accompanied resentful and hostile feelings.  During these times, the envied is capable of accessing inspiration and drive to commit to advance oneself.  There is an ability to hold optimism and hope that there is opportunity to accomplish similar goals, develop similar attributes and obtain similar possessions.  When the envier perceives that they have a high level of control in accessing what is envied and holds the perception that what is envied is deserved; one is further able to possess interest and place effort in attempting to obtain the envied characteristic/object. (Lange & Crusius, 2015 p. 285).

Envious conditions that are coupled with anger and the desire to behave in vicious ways are characterized as “malicious envy” (Lange & Crusius, 2015 p. 285-286).  Within this affective climate the envier desires to “level the envied person down, decreasing or denigrating the advantage of the other” (Lange & Crusius, 2015 p. 285).  This is a time where the envier experiences fear rather than optimism and lacks trust that one is able to adopt what the envied owns.  Regis Acosta (2007, p. 3) outlines a trajectory of such envy that includes the envier possessing an initial desire to emulate the envied or actively engages with the envied object.  When the envier fails to become as the envied, there are attempts at avoiding and ignoring the envied; yet is unsuccessful, as the envied object/individual is a fixed ideation.  Thoughts of the envied preoccupy the envier that taunts him/her by offering a steady cue that one has weaknesses and flaws that hinder from becoming the envied person or owning the envied object.  Consequently, the envier feels incapable and fury where the self-concept is injured. With ineffective defensive mechanisms to manage this dynamic, the envier develops feelings of desiring to spoil or destroy the envied object/individual.  When these aggressive fantasies manifest in behaviors, one becomes susceptible to engage in desperate, even illegal acts.

Once meeting the Taylor’s, Anna discovers the wealth the couple possesses.  When she relies upon the Taylor’s to rescue her from her fiancé’s abuse, she is invited to reside in the couple’s home for the duration of the pregnancy.  During this time, she becomes settled in the Taylor’s comfortable home, observes the couple’s stable careers; and, most important to her, perceives the couple’s marriage as healthy, supportive, respectful and loving.  When Anna is faced to consider her present oppressive reality of domestic violence and manipulation executed by her fiancé, she commence contemplation regarding her self-concept.  Anna’s exposure to self-help literature furnishes her with affirmations that she performs.  Her recitals of, “I am in control of my life” reminds her of what she can accomplish and of what she feels she deserves.  Anna becomes empowered and motivated to attempt to actualize her fantasy of having a loving partner.  Consequently, she grows a desire to destroy the Taylor’s union and to begin a life with John Taylor.  Taking a similar path detailed by Regis Acosta (2007, p. 3), when Anna makes advances to obtain her desired individual and is faced with boundaries and redirection; her rage, wrath and frustration swell.  Each rejection becomes an injury to her self-esteem causing Anna to access greater motivation to destroy the Taylor’s union.  Each failed attempt at closing the gap between what she possessed and what she envies fuels greater desperation.  Anna’s envy overcomes her and engulfs the Taylor’s as she becomes increasingly dangerous to herself, the Taylor’s and the baby she carries.

Envy remains an emotion that is well explored within various fields.  The presence, one’s interaction and experience, the course and the quality of envy are questions that scholars continue to hold interest in and ponder upon.  “…while envy was reliably linked to scenarios where one’s personal qualities, possessions or achievements fail to measure up to those of others” (Purshouse, 2004, p. 180), it is also an emotion where our knowledge evolves.  Efforts to distinguish envy from jealousy and abolish the notion that envy must possess a malevolent quality; rather lives on a continuum, are current works of researchers. Anna’s character offers an illustration to a well-entrenched portrayal of envy; a powerful emotion that manifest in great motivation that can be destructive; even to oneself.  As we continue to nourish our curiosity of envy, we are challenged to consider this emotion in a greater sense that lends to a better understanding of envy in ourselves and others.

References

Acosta, Regis, MD. (2007). Envy-The Forgotten Narcissistic Issue. Psychiatric Times, 24,0).

Cowan-Jenssen, S. (2011). Envy: Everyday and Everywhere.  Psychotherapy and Politics International, 9 (1), 43-51.

Envy. (n.d). Dictional.com Unabridged.  Retrieved October 24^th, 2016 from Dictionary.com website. http:www.dictionary.com/browse/envy.

Ferguson, F. (2002). Envy Rising. The John Hopkins University Press, 69,(4),889-905.

Lange, J. & Crusius, J. (2015). Dispositional Envy Revisited.  Unraveling the Motivational Dynamics of Benign and Malicious Envy. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 41,(2)284-294.

Meredith Owen, W. (2008).  ‘Go! Sterilise the fertile with thy rage’ Envy as embittered desire.  Journal of Analytical Psychology, 53,459-480.

Purshouse, L. (2004). Jealousy in relation to Envy.  Erkenntnis, 60,179-204.