THE SCENE
You’re at the pub with a group of mates and your beautiful, vivacious girlfriend is all over one of your single, handsome friends. You’re clocking every raised eyebrow and coquettish giggle as you stand quietly fuming on the other side of the room.


THE DANGER
Before you march over to give your mate a backhander and your missus a serve, be aware that the exchange may be entirely innocent. Alternatively, she may be flirting because she needs reassurance.

“Many women see male attention as important for self-esteem and reinforcement of their attractiveness,” says relationships psychologist Elisabeth Shaw. “Others may flirt as a vengeful act in the relationship.”


THE GET-OUT-OF-JAIL-FREE CARD
“Ask yourself if it was it flirting per se or her lack of acknowledgment of you?” Shaw says. If it’s the former she may need to modify her behaviour, but not to the point that it suppresses her personality.

“But if you’re the jealous type, then perhaps you need to think more about what can be done to reassure yourself.”