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.
You Have a Chemical Reaction
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.
Infatuation can be the first stage of love, but not everyone experiences infatuation. You can meet someone wonderful without that love-at-first-sight rush. Mundin emphasizes that infatuation can turn into love, but only if you're willing to let go of the perfect fantasy and overcome any disappointment that brings.
Infatuation is a state characterized by intense feelings of passion toward a specific individual. The term infatuation typically refers to the early stages of romantic love, before the infatuated individual has had a chance to get to know or develop an intimate relationship with the love object.
Infatuation is inherently based on psychological projection, which springs from a false set of beliefs one may ascribe to the object of one's infatuation. Whereas true love is built on a complete understanding of another person (including strengths and weaknesses), infatuation comes from an idealization of that person.
infatuation (n.) 1640s, noun of action from infatuate (q.v.), or else from French infatuation or directly from Late Latin infatuationem (nominative infatuatio), from past participle stem of Latin infatuare "make a fool of."
It doesn't appear in the American Psychiatric Association's “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.” But obsessive love can signal other mental health challenges. The specific causes are difficult to pinpoint, but many psychologists agree certain risk factors increase a person's chance of having it.
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.
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.
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. You might overthink the little things, like what to text them in the middle of a day, when they haven't texted you yet.
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, ...
Some obsessions can stem from an experience with someone that affects an individual so much that they become fanatical about that person. This condition – often referred to as an “obsessive love disorder” (OLD)– occurs when someone mistakes feelings of obsession for feelings of love.
Being romantically rejected can be a familiar feeling that mirrors one's childhood, leading that person to seek out more of the same. People with a history of rejection may sometimes subconsciously seek out similar scenarios, hoping that the story will have a different ending.
While infatuation may produce feelings of closeness, because they are typically one sided real, lasting commitment by both parties isn't possible.
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.
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.
Infatuation can create uncertainty whereby you cling to your feelings and the object of these intense emotions. This leads to jealousy, which is not to be mistaken for depth-of-feeling, as well as a sense of wanting to control the relationship. Are your feelings reciprocated?
Obsessive love disorder is an informal term used to describe one's unhealthy sexual or romantic fixation on another person. This can often be identified by excessive, all-consuming desires to protect, possess, or be involved with the individual.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nandita says, “Infatuation occurs when a person feels intense attraction, admiration, or sexual passion toward someone else. You will notice physical symptoms of it such as butterflies in your stomach, being sweaty, and a rise in your heart rate in their presence.