Avaa Posted February 21, 2011 Posted February 21, 2011 What do you think causes infatuation? for me(in the past) it was not only based on physical attraction but also a fantasy as to what that person would be like if I were to be with him, etc., P.S. I mean what causes infatuation...not "of" infatuation. And I almost butchered the word, too.
musemaj11 Posted February 21, 2011 Posted February 21, 2011 Hormones. The ugliest woman can look hot when I'm really horny.
purplehouse Posted February 21, 2011 Posted February 21, 2011 I agree with you Avaa. Infatuation is more about being 'in love' with the fantasy or the idea you create in your head.
Nexus One Posted February 21, 2011 Posted February 21, 2011 "Love chemicals" flowing through the body. What are love chemicals? estrogen (and testosterone for men) - Plays a role in sex drive. Dopamine - The "pleasure chemical," produces a feeling of bliss. Norepinephrine - Similar to adrenaline and produces the racing heart and excitement. Lack of Serotonin - Serotonin prevents obsessive and compulsive behavior. When you fall in love your serotonin levels drop significantly. Oxytocin - Plays a role in bonding behavior between humans. Vasopressin - Plays a role in forming long-term relationships between humans. It also encourages monogamy within a human being. Endorphins - Are the body's natural painkillers. Feelings of physical pain, attachment and addiction form in the same area of the brain as where feelings of love are formed. Endorphins are released to increase feelings of well being in long term relationships. Ironically enough, endorphin is also addictive. I suspect not all of the above will be involved with the state of infatuation, but some of them certainly will. I'd say even the intensive fantasizing has it's basis in some of these chemicals or lack thereof.
Nexus One Posted February 21, 2011 Posted February 21, 2011 (edited) I agree with you Avaa. Infatuation is more about being 'in love' with the fantasy or the idea you create in your head. Better yet. In psychology it is claimed that one cannot fall in love with someone else, but only with the image of that person in one's mind. So in fact, when you're in love, you're in love with yourself. Edited February 21, 2011 by Nexus One
Author Avaa Posted February 21, 2011 Author Posted February 21, 2011 "Love chemicals" flowing through the body. What are love chemicals? estrogen (and testosterone for men) - Plays a role in sex drive. Dopamine - The "pleasure chemical," produces a feeling of bliss. Norepinephrine - Similar to adrenaline and produces the racing heart and excitement. Lack of Serotonin - Serotonin prevents obsessive and compulsive behavior. When you fall in love your serotonin levels drop significantly. Oxytocin - Plays a role in bonding behavior between humans. Vasopressin - Plays a role in forming long-term relationships between humans. It also encourages monogamy within a human being. Endorphins - Are the body's natural painkillers. Feelings of physical pain, attachment and addiction form in the same area of the brain as where feelings of love are formed. Endorphins are released to increase feelings of well being in long term relationships. Ironically enough, endorphin is also addictive. I suspect not all of the above will be involved with the state of infatuation, but some of them certainly will. I'd say even the intensive fantasizing has it's basis in some of these chemicals or lack thereof. Interesting/intense. Learn something new everyday;)
Feelin Frisky Posted February 21, 2011 Posted February 21, 2011 I disagree with the "chemical" thing. That's nonsense. If it were true we'd be indiscriminate about feelings and want everyone. My infatuations have been very specific to one person at a time. It's usually about developing feelings for someone who is somewhat out of reach for one reason or another. And one day you realize this person just makes your heart go pidder padder. And the longer it goes on without things changing the stronger it gets. I love it actually. It makes me feel a kind of love sickness that is so sweet. I usually develop it for the type of female that is not overtly gorgeous but is somehow quietly beautiful with a sense of vulnerability that brings out the protective male instincts in me.
Nexus One Posted February 22, 2011 Posted February 22, 2011 (edited) I disagree with the "chemical" thing. That's nonsense. If it were true we'd be indiscriminate about feelings and want everyone. My infatuations have been very specific to one person at a time. It's usually about developing feelings for someone who is somewhat out of reach for one reason or another. And one day you realize this person just makes your heart go pidder padder. And the longer it goes on without things changing the stronger it gets. I love it actually. It makes me feel a kind of love sickness that is so sweet. I usually develop it for the type of female that is not overtly gorgeous but is somehow quietly beautiful with a sense of vulnerability that brings out the protective male instincts in me. Not everyone triggers a release of those chemicals in your body, hence we're not indiscriminate about it. I'm sure there are more factors at play than just those chemicals though, so perhaps it can't be fully explained only through those chemicals. Edited February 22, 2011 by Nexus One
Author Avaa Posted February 22, 2011 Author Posted February 22, 2011 I disagree with the "chemical" thing. That's nonsense. If it were true we'd be indiscriminate about feelings and want everyone. My infatuations have been very specific to one person at a time. It's usually about developing feelings for someone who is somewhat out of reach for one reason or another. And one day you realize this person just makes your heart go pidder padder. And the longer it goes on without things changing the stronger it gets. I love it actually. It makes me feel a kind of love sickness that is so sweet. I usually develop it for the type of female that is not overtly gorgeous but is somehow quietly beautiful with a sense of vulnerability that brings out the protective male instincts in me. awww that's cute.
denise_xo Posted February 22, 2011 Posted February 22, 2011 I disagree with the "chemical" thing. That's nonsense. If it were true we'd be indiscriminate about feelings and want everyone. My infatuations have been very specific to one person at a time. It's usually about developing feelings for someone who is somewhat out of reach for one reason or another. And one day you realize this person just makes your heart go pidder padder. And the longer it goes on without things changing the stronger it gets. I love it actually. It makes me feel a kind of love sickness that is so sweet. I usually develop it for the type of female that is not overtly gorgeous but is somehow quietly beautiful with a sense of vulnerability that brings out the protective male instincts in me. Agree - the chemical processes are a biological underpinning. They don't explain what caused them in the first place. Also agree that love sickness is wonderful
denise_xo Posted February 22, 2011 Posted February 22, 2011 What do you think causes infatuation? for me(in the past) it was not only based on physical attraction but also a fantasy as to what that person would be like if I were to be with him, etc., P.S. I mean what causes infatuation...not "of" infatuation. And I almost butchered the word, too. I think it's a fascinating question but I don't have an answer. I have wondered many times what has made me become infatuated with a particular person at a particular point in time. I've yet to come across a satisfactory explanation. I can go along with some of the 'it's a fantasy' line of thought, but that still doesn't address the particulars of becoming infatuated with a certain person at a specific juncture. The fantasy, to me personally at least, comes after the feeling arises, so it's more an issue of the fantasy sustaining it rather than causing it. So as I live in ignorance, I just try to enjoy it when it comes along
EasyHeart Posted February 22, 2011 Posted February 22, 2011 I disagree with the "chemical" thing. That's nonsense. If it were true we'd be indiscriminate about feelings and want everyone. My infatuations have been very specific to one person at a time. It's usually about developing feelings for someone who is somewhat out of reach for one reason or another. And one day you realize this person just makes your heart go pidder padder. And the longer it goes on without things changing the stronger it gets. I love it actually. It makes me feel a kind of love sickness that is so sweet. I usually develop it for the type of female that is not overtly gorgeous but is somehow quietly beautiful with a sense of vulnerability that brings out the protective male instincts in me.Well, you can believe whatever you want, but the chemicals are real and they can be measured. The chemicals don't cause you to be attracted -- that's most likely based on psychological patterning that's imprinted during childhood. The chemicals are produced by your body WHEN you are attracted; they explain the euphoric feelings that you describe. They also explain why rejection or breaking up can be so difficult: your body is going through withdrawl from those "happy-hormones". Breakups are very similar to what drug addicts experience when they go cold turkey.
Feelin Frisky Posted February 22, 2011 Posted February 22, 2011 Well, you can believe whatever you want, but the chemicals are real and they can be measured. The chemicals don't cause you to be attracted -- that's most likely based on psychological patterning that's imprinted during childhood. The chemicals are produced by your body WHEN you are attracted; they explain the euphoric feelings that you describe. They also explain why rejection or breaking up can be so difficult: your body is going through withdrawl from those "happy-hormones". Breakups are very similar to what drug addicts experience when they go cold turkey. Well, you can believe whatever you want too. My assertion was not a "belief"--it was a reaction to someone else's misinterpretation. I don't need a lesson in biology TYVM. It is assumed that we are attracted to other people because of our biology--that's a given. The OP question was about infatuation. And infatuation happens when we prize one person above all others. There's no "belief" involved in that and no special chemistry either. We get infatuated with specific persons for specific reasons--even if those reasons aren't particulalry clear at the time. Infatuation involves selection of a muse and a period of growing fantasy and romance about that person--it doesn't happen in an instant because of some hormonal spike. I don't understand why you chose to quote me and take issue with what I said. If you have another opinion you could have made it without being contentious with me.
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