Love and infatuation are two different emotions that are often confused as one, but they have distinct differences. Love is a deep, intense emotion that is built over time and requires commitment and trust.
On the other hand, infatuation is a strong feeling of attraction or admiration towards another person that fades away with time. Both of these emotions can cause us to act in irrational ways and make decisions we wouldn't usually make. Understanding the difference between love and infatuation can help us make better decisions when it comes to our relationships.
It’s easy to get swept away in a romantic relationship. But how do you distinguish between love and infatuation? What are the differences between the two emotions, and how can they be recognized? Read on to learn more about the telltale signs of love versus infatuation.
Identifying the signs of Love Vs Infatuation
We've all been there before - we meet someone and instantly feel a strong connection to them. We might even say we're in love with them. But is it really love, or is it just infatuation?
It can be tough to tell the difference between love and infatuation, but there are a few key differences.
For one, love is usually a slower burn than infatuation. With love, you gradually grow to love someone over time.
With infatuation, you usually feel an intense, sudden connection to someone.
Additionally, love is usually based on more than just physical attraction. You might be physically attracted to someone you're not in love with, but you're not likely to be in love with someone you're not physically attracted to.
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but in general, infatuation is transitory and love is persistent.
Infatuation is Transitory
Infatuation is often described as a “head-over-heels” feeling that is usually transitory. When you are infatuated with someone, you feel like you cannot think about anything else—you constantly daydream about them and fantasize about what it would be like to be together. This type of emotional intensity usually does not last very long; once the initial rush fades, it can be replaced by a more stable emotion, such as love or friendship.
It's also showing an interest in someone without fully understanding or knowing them. People in an early stage of liking someone often describe this as an "addiction," as if they're under the spell of someone else's will or control. People in this state are frequently obsessed, constantly thinking about their lover.
Love is an Emotion
On the other hand, love is an emotion that develops over time. Unlike infatuation, which can come on suddenly and strongly, love grows gradually with time and experiences shared together. When you are in love with someone, it’s not just an intense feeling; it’s also a deep connection that has been built up over months or even years of getting to know each other. True love is based on mutual respect, understanding, and commitment, and it lasts much longer than just a passing fancy.
"Love" is a strong emotional response to a person or thing. It's a keenly felt positive or negative sentiment toward another person or entity. When in love, you may find it difficult to think clearly as your mind wanders from one topic to the next. You may also show how much you love someone by getting them gifts or treating them with a lot of affection. You'll also find it hard to focus on anything other than that person; this is because your mind has locked onto what it loves most. When you're in love, you'll feel a deep sense of security knowing that your loved one is there for you, as well as a sense of warmth and contentment.
Identifying the Signs of Love vs Infatuation
The best way to tell the difference between love and infatuation is to look for signs of stability in your relationship.
If your feelings for your partner haven't changed much over time, i.e., they've been pretty steady, it may be true love.
If, on the other hand, your feelings have swung wildly from one extreme to the other, like from a passionate obsession to a complete lack of interest, it could just be infatuation.
Additionally, if both partners in a relationship show signs of mutual respect for each other, understanding each other’s needs and wants without having unrealistic expectations of one another, it could easily point towards real love!
Constantly thinking about the object of your affection is a telltale sign of infatuation. Other signs to look for are:
Even though you haven't spent much time together or had any substantial chats, you find yourself feeling strongly for this person.
When you're with this individual, you feel like you've found perfection.
This individual seems like the ideal companion for you.
You're physically drawn to this individual, and it might cause you to overlook their other interesting qualities.
You haven't spent much time getting to know this individual on a personal level.
What you know about the individual is mostly superficial, based on their outward appearance or their actions in a social context.
What you know about them is very standard information that a casual acquaintance would also know. In other words, you haven't spent much time with this individual, and much of what you know about them comes from second-hand accounts or social media.
Even if you don't know this individual well, you can't help but dream about them.
To some extent, you're let down when they don't live up to your high standards, but you chalk it up to bad luck and go on.
Whenever reality gets in the way of your imagination, you choose to overlook the warning signs of mismatch.
You care a lot about this person's opinion of you, therefore you want to make a good impression on them.
You're ecstatic at the prospect of "having" this person or being "selected" by them.
You're beginning to develop deep emotions for this individual, almost as if you've always known.
Adjust Your Expectations
Knowing the difference between love and infatuation can help avoid hurtful situations down the line. While both emotions may feel intensely passionate at times, only real, lasting love has staying power. Be sure to take things slow in any new relationship so that you don't get carried away by short-lived feelings before taking the time to truly get to know each other over time! With this knowledge in mind, couples can make sure their relationship stands the test of time!
Love and infatuation are two similar but distinct emotions. Generally, people think they're one and the same, but they're actually quite different. Both love and infatuation are strong yet transient emotional states, and they can have different effects on the people experiencing them. Understanding the differences between love and infatuation can help you understand when you're feeling love and when you're in the grip of madness.