Limerence: Unpacking the Intense Infatuation That's Not Love

• Limerence is a psychological term for deep emotional fixation on another person, introduced by Dorothy Tennov.
• It's distinct from love, thriving on uncertainty, hope, and imagined possibilities rather than mutual understanding.
• Key features include intrusive thoughts, strong desire for emotional return, and heightened sensitivity to the other's behavior.
• Individuals may replay conversations, seek meaning in small gestures, and experience intense emotional highs and lows.
• Limerence can occur even with unavailable or distant individuals, explaining overwhelming crushes and difficulty moving on.

Why It Matters: Limerence is an intense, often consuming infatuation distinct from love, rooted in psychological fixation.