Love is a complicated emotion, and it is not always easy to tell if you are in love with someone or if you are just infatuated.
Knowing the difference between being in love and being infatuated can help you identify your feelings for someone more accurately.
To help distinguish between the two, this article will explore the signs of infatuation and how they differ from those of true love.
What Is Infatuation?
Infatuation is a strong feeling of love or admiration for someone. It can be overwhelming and often leads people to act impulsively or irrationally in pursuit of the object of their affection. Though infatuation can seem like true love, it is usually fleeting and not based on realistic expectations.
Infatuation often starts with physical attraction, which then leads to intense thoughts and feelings about someone. Often these feelings are accompanied by frequent daydreams, fantasies, and an intense need to be with that person as much as possible.
The intensity of these emotions makes it difficult for the person experiencing them to think about anything else but the object of their affection. This can cause difficulties in other areas such as work, school, or relationships with friends and family members because all other activities lose priority when compared to being with the person they are infatuated with.
Difference Between Infatuation And Love
Infatuation and love are two distinct emotions, yet they can often be confused with one another. It is important to understand the difference between these two feelings to determine which emotion you are experiencing.
Infatuation is a strong feeling of attraction or admiration towards someone, usually based on physical appearance or personality traits. It is intense and gives off a rush of excitement when thinking about the person in question; however, it tends to be short-lived and not sustainable over time. Furthermore, infatuation may cause an individual to become irrational or make poor decisions due to the intensity of the emotion.
On the other hand, love is a deep emotional connection with someone that endures over time. It is characterized by compassion, commitment, and understanding between two people who enjoy spending time together with a sense of obligation or duty.
15 Signs you are infatuated and not in love
When it comes to matters of the heart, it can be hard to tell if the feelings you’re experiencing are real love or just infatuation. Infatuation is a strong feeling of attraction and admiration for someone, and although it may feel like true love, some signs indicate you are not actually in love with them.
1. You Don’t Know Much about Them
One key sign that you may be experiencing infatuation instead of genuine love is if you don’t know much about your partner. If all the conversations between the two of you revolve around superficial topics, like where you want to go on vacation or what type of food you both like, then these could be signs that your feelings aren’t rooted in true emotion. To ensure that your relationship is built on something deeper than an infatuation, take time to get to know your partner’s likes and dislikes beyond surface-level topics. Having a deeper conversation is the best way to start.
2. Intense Physical Attraction
When it comes to finding the right person, it can be difficult to differentiate between being infatuated and truly in love. Intense physical attraction is often a sign that you are merely infatuated, rather than deeply in love.
This type of attraction is usually very strong, sudden, and overwhelming. It may make you feel like the other person is perfect for you even if they are not. Physical attraction can mask some of the important issues that should be taken into consideration when deciding on a relationship. You may also find that your intense physical attraction goes away quickly if both parties do not share similar values or goals.
In comparison, being in love often involves a deep emotional connection with someone else as well as an appreciation for who they are as an individual. You will feel more secure in your relationship and value their opinion even if you don’t always agree on everything.
3. A Lack of long-term Commitment
A quick way to tell if you are infatuated rather than in love is to consider the level of commitment involved. If there is a lack of long-term commitment, you are likely experiencing an intense emotion known as ‘infatuation’.
Infatuation usually involves strong physical attraction, while love requires more than just physical appeal. Infatuated people tend to enter relationships without considering the future or committing themselves fully. As a result, the relationship may not last very long or progress further than its initial stages.
4. Lack of Deeper Connection
Infatuation feels like an intense rush of emotion connected to physical attraction or admiration. Those feelings may make you miss your beloved when they’re not around, feel like you have butterflies in your stomach when interacting with them, or experience strong sexual desire for them.
However, this type of passionate feeling fades over time due to the lack of emotional intimacy shared between the two people involved. For a deep connection to form there needs to be trust built up through communication about hopes, dreams, and fears – something that often doesn’t happen in cases of simple infatuation.
5. Overthinking the Small Stuff
Many times we find ourselves overthinking the smallest details when it comes to a person we are attracted to, but this could be a sign that our feelings are not as deep as they seem. Overthinking small things such as whether or not someone is taking too long to respond to your text messages or how their day went may indicate that you are feeling infatuated rather than truly in love.
Infatuation often leads us down a path of intense emotions and thinking about every move the object of our affection makes without any real trust existing between two people. This could be because you don’t know them very well yet, so all you have is your imagination running wild with possibilities.
6. Anxious about Separation
The fear of being apart can be a strong indicator that your relationship lacks the deeper connection of true love. If you find yourself feeling anxious about being away from your significant other, it may be time to take an honest look at the state of your relationship.
When we are truly in love, it is natural to miss our partner when they are away but there is a difference between missing someone and feeling like you must constantly be by their side if you want them to stay interested in you. If you are obsessing over how often they text or talk to you, this could be a sign that what you feel for them is more infatuation than true love.
7. Unrealistic Expectations
If you find yourself expecting your partner to fulfill all of your needs or if you feel like they should live up to an unattainable ideal, then chances are you’re not actually in love.
Infatuation is often characterized by a strong desire for something that can never be obtained; a kind of blind obsession with another person. It usually leads to feelings of disappointment when those unrealistic expectations go unmet. When we are truly in love, however, our feelings tend to come from a place of appreciation and respect for our partner and their qualities.
8. Your mind is fully occupied by Them
One sign that you are infatuated with someone rather than truly in love is if your mind is constantly busy thinking about them. This person may consume your thoughts all day, every day, and you may find yourself daydreaming about them frequently. If this sounds like you, then chances are high that what you are feeling isn’t real love but simply an intense obsession or attraction towards the other person instead.
When we are truly in love, our heads will still be occupied with thoughts of the other person but they won’t take up every single thought we have. We can still focus on our careers, passion, and hobbies and we still engage in our social circle.
9. No Mutual Understanding
It’s natural to have feelings of infatuation when you first meet someone. But if the feelings don’t evolve and mature into true love, it may be a sign that you are stuck in an infatuated state.
One key element of being in love is mutual understanding – without this, likely, you are only infatuated with your potential partner. A lack of mutual understanding means that even though one person may feel very deeply for their other half, they don’t really ‘get’ each other on a deeper level. It can also mean that they aren’t able to connect emotionally or intellectually beyond the superficial level.
If there is no genuine connection or respect between two people, then it’s likely that these feelings will not develop into true love over time.
10. Your Feelings Come and Go Quickly
While being in love is a deep, meaningful connection that lasts over time, infatuation is usually fleeting. If your feelings come and go quickly, there’s a good chance you’re experiencing infatuation rather than love.
If you are infatuated, you might find yourself thinking about the person constantly but don’t feel motivated to take any action or make plans with them. Also, you may feel intense butterflies in the presence of this person but not have any desire to deepen the relationship beyond spending time together.
11. Irrational Jealousy & Possessiveness
Irrational jealousy and possessiveness can be signs that you are not in love with someone but rather infatuated. These emotions usually arise from a fear of losing the object of your affection, or as a result of comparing yourself to others.
This form of jealousy and possessiveness is different than healthy feelings of concern because it often manifests itself in irrational thoughts such as suspicion and mistrust, which leads to controlling behaviors. Symptoms may include constantly checking up on the other person’s whereabouts, being overly critical, or dictating how they dress or who they can talk to.
If you recognize these signs within yourself and your relationship, it could be an indication that you are infatuated rather than in love with someone.
12. A Lot of Intense Emotions Involved
One of the key signs you are infatuated and not in love is a lot of intense emotions present. When you are experiencing strong and rapid emotional swings, chances are your relationship isn’t based on real, lasting love. You may find yourself feeling strongly one moment and then having those feelings fade away quickly afterward.
The intensity of these feelings indicates that they aren’t rooted in a genuine connection and understanding between you both; rather, they stem from lust or an idealized version of your partner that exists only in your mind.
13. You Think They’re Perfect
One sign that you are not in love but rather, infatuated, is when you think they’re perfect. This could mean that all their flaws and weaknesses have been overlooked or ignored due to your strong feelings for them.
When someone is truly in love with another person, they recognize their faults and imperfections but accept them anyway – this is what makes true relationships so special. On the other hand, if you only focus on your partner’s best qualities and ignore any bad traits, it could be an indication that you are still stuck in the initial ‘honeymoon phase’ which signals a state of infatuation rather than real love.
14. You Don’t Talk Much About the Future is a sign you are infatuated and not in love
It’s natural for couples to think about their future together as they get closer, but if these thoughts don’t come up in conversation or when making plans, it could mean that you’re only interested in the immediate gratification from being with them.
When someone is truly in love, they plan for a long-term future with their partner and make decisions accordingly. Focusing on what you can do now isn’t wrong but without looking ahead to what’s next it may be an indication that feelings are more of an infatuation rather than love.
15. One-sided efforts
One-sided efforts can be a sign that you are infatuated, rather than in love. The feeling of being deeply connected and appreciated is often absent when one person is exerting more effort than the other. When it comes to relationships, there should be an equal balance between partners; if one partner is putting more effort forward while the other shrugs off their responsibilities, this could indicate that your love isn’t genuine.
If you find yourself making excuses for why your partner doesn’t make as much of an effort as you do or going out of your way to please them without receiving any form of appreciation in return, this could point to a lack of mutual understanding and admiration within the relationship. It’s important to take notice if such behaviors become commonplace – they might be signs that you are infatuated with someone instead of being in love with them.
Does infatuation turn into love?
Most people will tell you that if the feeling of infatuation doesn’t go away after a few weeks or months, then it very likely has turned into love. That said, however, it’s important to look at the bigger picture and consider both your feelings and actions when determining whether or not your infatuation has become something else.
The first step in understanding if your infatuation has become genuine love is to think about what emotions you’re experiencing. If you feel contentment and happiness around this person no matter what life throws at you both, then chances are good that your heart has been taken over by love.
How long does infatuation last in a relationship?
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly how long infatuation lasts because every couple will experience it differently.
Generally speaking, however, most people would agree that the full effect of being “infatuated” typically lasts anywhere from 1 – 3 months.
After this point, passion may continue but the intensity of infatuation tends to lessen. During this time, couples tend to move more towards developing emotional intimacy and security by building trust and strengthening their bond through shared experiences.
Is infatuation a bad thing?
Infatuation often gets a bad reputation as an immature emotion. It’s seen as something that fades away quickly, leaving behind disappointment and regret. However, when we look more closely at the concept of infatuation, we can see that it holds some positive aspects.
In its purest form, infatuation involves intense admiration for another person and a strong desire to be with them. This initial spark of attraction can quickly deepen into a strong bond between two people if they are willing to nurture this connection over time—something far more meaningful than just physical attraction or fleeting emotion.
So, infatuation is not a bad thing. It is usually the natural thing to happen in the initial stage of the relationship.