Infatuation is often confused with enduring love because they have similar feelings like intense attraction and attachment to another person.
The difference between them lies in their duration and level of passion. Infatuation is an intense feeling of physical attraction towards someone that lasts for some time but eventually fades away after knowing more about the person's real self. Enduring love, on the other hand, is a long-lasting deep bond that involves emotional connection, trust, commitment, and mutual respect. In psychology, infatuation can be considered as a temporary phase of falling in love, while enduring love is a mature form of it. This essay explores the differences between infatuation and enduring love in detail.
The word 'infatuation' comes from the Latin phrase 'fatuus,' which means foolish or silly. It refers to the state of being blinded by one's own desires and fantasies about another person, leading to a false belief in an idealized version of them. The intensity of infatuation makes people act irrationally, making bad decisions, and ignoring any warning signs. Psychologists believe that infatuation occurs due to the release of certain hormones such as dopamine, oxytocin, adrenaline, and norepinephrine, which affect our brain chemistry and make us feel elated and happy.
Enduring love, on the other hand, is a deeper, longer-term feeling characterized by a sense of security, stability, and commitment. Unlike infatuation, it is not based on physical attraction alone but also on shared values, goals, interests, and personalities. People who are truly in love with each other learn to accept their partner's flaws and imperfections over time, seeing them as part of what makes them special. Enduring love requires effort, communication, and compromise to maintain, while infatuation does not.
Infatuation is often mistaken for enduring love because both feelings involve intense feelings of attraction, desire, and attachment.
They differ in duration and level of passion. Infatuation is short-lived and can last only for a few months, while enduring love may last several years or even decades. Moreover, infatuation involves superficial emotions and physical attraction, while enduring love includes deep emotional connection, trust, respect, and commitment.
Although infatuation and enduring love share some similar characteristics, they are different forms of love that have unique psychological processes. Infatuation is a temporary phase of falling in love, while enduring love is a mature form of it. Understanding these differences can help people distinguish between real love and infatuation and avoid making bad choices based on false illusions.
How does infatuation differ from enduring love in psychology?
Infatuation can be described as an intense but usually short-lived romantic attachment that is characterized by strong physical attraction, idealization of one's partner, and a feeling of being intoxicated with excitement and passion. It often involves an all-consuming desire for someone who seems perfect in every way.