NT Experience

“You have what I deserve; your gain is my loss.”

When NT people see other people having better “things”, they feel lower in the status hierarchy and want the other thing. The value of objects, positions, relationships, jobs, etc. are often about how others will feel when they see them.

My Experience

When I use the word “envy”, I have identified something that works well and is useful. I am lacking that – I have identified an inefficiency and I also want one. I don’t care about how others will perceive this, I want one like that for myself. The item can be something of use: an object or a job.

It turns out I value everything I have in a similar way: I want a nice car, in particular something that is very reliable, fuel efficient and is quiet to ride in. I want a nice computer because I use it for my work (and I like to play with tech gadgets). I want a nice house because it will be comfortable and pleasant to live in.

I don’t care what anybody else thinks about these things. I don’t show them off – I only have an urge to show somebody else something if I think they will also like it, like a pinball table.

I have use “jealous” as a synonym, even though that is a different concept, but I find it hard to distinguish.

Comparison

Both NT people and I have a desire for something that we don’t have, but that is where the similarity ends.

In NT society, envy typically has a very negative connotation. I don’t think my “envy” has any ill effects – desiring something that is good and useful seems positive, but it really isn’t the same emotion as envy.

Semantic Divergence: yes.