What is the difference between being in love with someone and being completely infatuated with someone?

Answer 1

Seriously? Good question. It's important to remember that on a scientific level there are many stages of love and they change over time. Quit literally the chemicals that induce the "love" feelings will adjust over time when you find someone who you are suited to and choose to stay with them.

I'm going to assume you're talking about the difference between the initial stage of the love (the "star struck" stage) vs. infatuation.

Infatuation in the dictionary is listed as "a foolish and usually extravagant passion or love or admiration", however, the social implication is that it unhealthily borderlines obsession.

With love in the initial stages you grow very fond of someone and you get butterflies and you DO want to know everything about them and you think they're amazing and perfect and bla bla bla. Ever hear the "blinded by love" bit? Yeah, that applies here.

However, infatuation always manages to take it a step farther. When you become totally infatuated with someone you start doing things that are slightly creepy like kind of stalking them by memorizing their schedule. Or learning all their social circles just so you can use that to get near them. Or perhaps gaining their telephone number without their permission via some other random means. It's not exactly obsession YET but it's very very close and only takes one more creepy move (or more stalking) to become an obsession. Like, taking pictures of them secretly and pinning them to your wall and kissing them nightly as you promise to said picture that you'll someday get married and have a house with a white picket fence and 2.5 children etc..

See, Infatuation is on the line of unhealthy and delusional but not quit there yet. So you have to make sure to keep yourself in check.

Crushes are healthy and being totally head over heals for someone and daydreaming about a future with them is totally normal. Just know the limits and stick to them.