What is Love?
Love can be described as an intense feeling of deep affection that individuals experience towards another person. It involves strong emotional bonds, physical attraction, and commitment.
There are instances where people confuse lust and infatuation for true love. Lust is a physical desire while infatuation is a temporary state of being deeply attracted to someone. True love goes beyond physical attraction, it is based on mutual understanding, respect, trust, communication, and compatibility. Infatuation and obsession are driven by chemicals released in the brain's reward system when one feels pleasure from engaging in pleasurable activities such as having sex. These feelings may be fleeting, and as time passes, they fade away.
Causes of Mistaking Obsession or Infatuation for Genuine Love
People mistake infatuation for true love because they fail to recognize the difference between sexual arousal and genuine love. They believe that falling in love is an instantaneous process that occurs within minutes of meeting someone new. This belief leads them to rush into relationships without knowing the other person well enough, which later results in disappointments. In some cases, individuals fall in love with someone who possesses qualities similar to their ideal partner and ignore red flags.
If one wants a partner who is independent, they might overlook warning signs of possessiveness or control, which could lead to abusive relationships. Another reason is lack of self-awareness; individuals may have low self-esteem and see themselves as unworthy of real love, so they settle for what they can get. They also tend to idealize their partners, seeing them through rose-tinted glasses and ignoring any flaws. This distortion blinds them from reality, making them think they are in a loving relationship while they are not. Also, some people mistake lust and infatuation for genuine love due to cultural factors such as societal pressure to find a mate. People may feel pressured into choosing someone due to social norms rather than taking time to assess whether they share common values and goals.
Mistaking obsession or infatuation for genuine love is caused by several psychological factors, including low self-esteem, lack of self-awareness, idealization, and failure to understand the differences between lust, infatuation, and true love. Individuals need to take time to know each other before committing to a relationship and learn how to communicate openly and honestly. They should also work on their insecurities and recognize that true love requires effort and commitment.
What psychological factors cause individuals to mistake obsession or infatuation for genuine love?
The feeling of being "in love" is often mistaken for obsessive behavior, especially in the early stages of a relationship. Psychologists explain this phenomenon as due to the release of dopamine, oxytocin, and adrenaline when individuals are attracted to each other. These hormones stimulate brain regions that trigger feelings of pleasure, attachment, and bonding, which can make people feel like they're falling in love quickly.