Infatuation: Function, Tasks, Role & Diseases

Almost everyone who has reached the age of puberty knows the famous “butterflies in the stomach“. They refer to a feeling that puts the body in a complete state of emergency and, for the most part, suspends rational thought – infatuation.

What is infatuation?

Infatuation is a strong feeling of affection, which differs from the feeling of love in some respects. Infatuation is a strong feeling of affection that differs from the feeling of love in some respects. In infatuation, there is sometimes a misjudgment of the other person and of the overall situation itself. Infatuation is a state that is not permanent, but lasts only for a certain period of time. The “rose-colored glasses” euphorize the person in love, whose feelings can be reciprocated, but are also partly one-sided. Infatuation can either subside after a certain time or develop into love. Thus, it can be considered a precursor to love. In psychology, experts refer to infatuation as passionate love, which can also be accompanied by strong physical desire for the other person. Reasons underlying infatuation are physical attractiveness on the one hand and sympathy towards the other person on the other. A certain feeling of similarity to the other person can also play a role. The processes that take place in the body of people in love are mainly hormonal. It is an interplay of various biochemical processes. Neurotransmitters and neurohormones play a decisive role and, according to research findings, are altered when a person is in love. Serotonin and dopamine, for example, which are considered messengers of feelings of happiness, are involved. In addition, oxytocin also plays a role in infatuation. Colloquially, it is also called the cuddle hormone.

Function and task

Infatuation primarily has the function of initiating a partnership and thus – in view of evolution – producing offspring and ensuring survival. A relationship begins in a large part of the cases with infatuation. Although many relationships break up again and in general infatuation is no guarantee for love, it has nevertheless a crucial function. Because in the time, in which humans become acquainted with the new partner and they adjust to each other, the infatuation is particularly important. It helps the person to overlook the mistakes of the other. Thus, it is responsible for not running away directly from the partner’s transgressions and quirks. In short, it gives time to get to know the other person from different sides and also to see what one learns to love about him or her later. Every partnership is based on a foundation that must first be created. During this period, it is therefore not very beneficial to get upset and argue about trivialities. The extent to which mistakes accepted during infatuation turn out to be problematic in retrospect varies from couple to couple. If love has developed, the person is more likely to overlook the other person’s faults because they are already known and accepted by him or her. If this is not the case, the partners may simply not fit together and the relationship breaks down. To put it another way: Falling in love is the first step into a possibly functioning partnership that can also provide offspring. In doing so, it acts as the body’s own drug to provide an easier start to the relationship.

Diseases and ailments

Infatuation is not reciprocated in all cases. This leads to disappointment and heartbreak, which can quickly be perceived by the affected person as hopeless. This is related to the unfulfilled desire for the other person. The person is not able to fulfill the basic mood triggered by the hormones and their needs. In this case, on the one hand, there is the possibility to fight for the person or to consider the situation as having no chance and wait until the infatuation subsides. Often it is difficult to accept that the feelings are not reciprocated. This quickly leads to a perceived “broken heart“. However, what is perceived as such at the first moment often proves to be exaggerated when the infatuation subsides. Nevertheless, unrequited love can lead to short-circuit reactions that can have a nasty end, depending on the situation and intensity.Therefore, friends and caregivers who stand by the affected person and encourage him or her are especially important in this case. How long infatuation lasts depends on various factors. How often one sees the beloved person is particularly decisive. At school, for example, unrequited feelings are often perceived as unbearable by pubescents because they usually see the other person every day at school. Things can also get complicated when infatuation occurs within a budding friendship. The best remedy for lovesickness is distraction. In addition, the person affected should, if necessary with the help of friends, keep in mind the finite nature of the phase they are currently experiencing. In the rarest cases, infatuation remains unique. As a rule, everyone falls in love several times in their lives, as it would be difficult to build up a relationship otherwise. In order for love to develop from infatuation, a deep affection for the other must be felt by both parties.