Love and infatuation are opposite to each other, despite their perceived similarities. They often cause different feelings and lead to unique long-term outcomes. In this article, we present 30 essential differences between love and infatuation. Before we learn their differences, let’s first understand infatuation and love.
What Is Infatuation?
Infatuation is the feeling of growing attracted to someone through a sensation of unreasoned passion. The feelings experienced by the infatuated person are strong, bold, and often lustful. Infatuation is also said to be the beginning stage of a relationship, that is, before it develops into mature intimacy.
Infatuation could depend on several factors, such as the perception of someone and the current situation. Overall, infatuation tends to be temporary and does not have the emotional intensity of love.
What Is Love?
Love consists of strong feelings of affection and attachment. It makes someone care for another person, help them, resolve problems, and express positive emotions. Love is a more complex emotion than infatuation and has several contextual forms. For instance, the love between a mother and child is different from the love between a couple.
30 Differences Between Love And Infatuation
| LOVE | INFATUATION |
| Occurs instantly | Happens slowly |
| Desire for physical intimacy | Focus on a deeper connection |
| Makes mind sillyand irrational | Calms minds and emotions |
| Highly intense, but ends soon | Remains comfortable and lasts longer |
| Reckless with emotions | Considerate and empathetic |
| Hidden motives | Genuine intentions |
| Brings obsession and jealousy | Develops understanding and trust |
| Shallow | Deep |
| Blunt and draining | Kind and energizing |
| Makes a big deal out of small things | Love forgives |
| Ideas related to fantasy | Genuine efforts to have a serious relationship |
| Possessive | Generous |
| Keeps grudges | Allows things to move on |
| Keeps guessing the feelings | Answers all questions in heart |
| Thrives on playing games | Exists on meaningful connections |
| Tumultuous and conditional | Serene and unconditional |
| Delusional | Love is real |
| Changes with time | Timeless |
| Unrealistic expectations | Realistic standards |
| Childish | Mature |
| Grows with desire | Grows with friendship |
| Stems from selfishness | Stems from selfishness |
| Makes you revengeful | Makes you peace-loving |
| Lose sense of life’s direction | Helps set the right course of life |
| Leave unannounced | Provides explanations |
| Never content with same person | Monogamous |
| Undefined | Exclusive |
| Loud | Quiet |
| Self-destructive | Heals you |
| Obsession with perfection | Embraces all imperfections |
The emotion usually has several positive effects and may improve the overall well-being of both the person being loved and the one in love. On the flip side, a person is more emotionally invested in love than infatuation. Thus, any shortfall or complication that affects love may cause negative effects, such as heartbreak. Highly intense, but ends soon.
Image Credit: freepik
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