The Dictionary
Desire
Limerence
An involuntary, intrusive infatuation marked by intense longing for reciprocation.
In depth
Coined by psychologist Dorothy Tennov in 1979, limerence describes a temporary cognitive and emotional state distinct from love or lust. It is characterized by intrusive thinking, mood dependence on the limerent object, and a craving for reciprocation that often outlasts logic.
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Articles using this term
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