Unrequited love or one-sided love is love that is not openly reciprocated or understood as such by the beloved. The beloved may not be aware of the admirer's deep and pure affection, or may consciously reject it without knowing that the admirer admires.
If you overthink the relationship, or wonder what they're feeling…it's infatuation. Love is two-sided. Infatuation, on the other hand, is frequently one-sided. If you're infatuated, you might spend a lot of your time wondering about whether or not they're super into you or committed to you.
Love is often based in reality and is fed on closeness and knowledge of the other person. You respect your partner's differences, enjoy true intimacy, and work together as a team. While infatuation can lead to love, it may require you to let go of the fantasy and embrace differences, shortcomings, and individuality.
Love and infatuation are both accompanied by intense feelings, attraction, and emotions. However, there are many differences between the two, including love is more than physical, and infatuation is only physical. Love is deep, and infatuation is shallow. Love is secure, and infatuation is insecure.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary definitions of love and infatuation are pretty distinct: love is "a warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion to another person," while infatuation is "a feeling of foolish or obsessively strong love for, admiration for, or interest in someone or something." Basically, love is a deep, ...
Infatuation is falling in love with or becoming extremely interested in someone or something for a short time. If you have an infatuation with a particular singer, you probably listen to her on repeat all day long, at least this week. If something infatuates you, it has caused you to become foolish.
In this phase, you feel an enormous physical attraction and passion towards your partner that comes effortlessly. This is the most intense phase of the relationship. The infatuation stage cannot last forever. Our body starts to naturally produce fewer endorphins as we become more familiar with each other.
The love potion does wear off. We wake up from the trance of infatuation and begin to see each other as separate people. Now the same qualities that once seemed so perfect begin to annoy us: His reliability feels rigid, her generosity seems irresponsible.
Causes of infatuation
In this sense, the cause of infatuation is a chemical or physiological reaction in the body. Beyond a chemical reaction, you may become infatuated for the following reasons: You see a person as perfect before you even get to know them. You're lonely.
Signs of infatuation
Want to spend all your time with them. Fall for them super quickly. Find that they occupy your thoughts constantly. Neglect other friendships and family relationships to spend time with them.
How long can infatuation last? An infatuation lasts anywhere between six months to three years. It could turn into a more serious relationship if it lasts beyond that. But people do realize even after a year that they are infatuated and it is not love.
Empty love: Sometimes, a stronger love deteriorates into empty love, in which the commitment remains, but the intimacy and passion have died. In cultures in which arranged marriages are common, relationships often begin as empty love.
Types of Unrequited Love
Loving someone who does not return those feelings. Pining for someone who is not available. Mutual attraction between people who are both in other relationships. Desire for an ex after a relationship has ended.
A one-sided relationship is characterized by one person investing more energy and effort into making the relationship work. In this imbalanced dynamic, one person puts in more time and effort or has less control.
As the infatuation fades a bit, you start investigating your partner and who they really are as a person. This is when the mask comes off and you're figuring out the other person's true self and whether or not you can work as a couple.
You “know” this person from afar. In reality, you don't know that much about this person, but you are drawn to them regardless and think you know them, but you don't. You need to be careful and aware if you feel this is happening.
You might actually feel high and euphoric when you're infatuated with someone. In your brain the dopamine center is rewarded when you see or think about your love interest. Then your brain gets flooded with dopamine. This pleasure response feels so good that it's easy to mistake infatuation with a real connection.
Signs of infatuation:
You feel like this person is a "perfect match" for you. You feel vaguely "obsessed" with this person. You're very physically attracted to this person, and it can sometimes distract you from exploring other facets of this person. You don't know the person that well on an actual personal level.
A guy who has some strong feelings for you wants to know every single thing about you. From surface level things like your favorite color and food, to more personal things like your happiest memory or your dreams for the future. He probably wants to ask you all kinds of questions, so have your answers ready.
When used with a preposition infatuated is typically followed by with.
Limerence is a mental state of profound romantic infatuation, deep obsession, and fantastical longing. The experience can range from euphoria to despair. "Limerence is a term that was coined by [psychologist] Dorothy Tennov in the '70s," relationship therapist Eliza Boquin, LMFT, tells mbg.
If the changes are short-term and positive, and the intensity remains at a controllable level, you are probably seeing an infatuation. If the PSR is a long-term intense relationship that takes up all of an individual's time and thought, you are seeing an obsession.