infatuation

thumb|right|230px|An illustrated depiction of Mahābhārata character [[Ulupi becoming infatuated with Arjuna]] Infatuation, also known as being smitten, is the personal state of being largely driven by a potentially uninformed or unreasonable passion, usually towards another person for whom one has developed strong romantic or sexual feelings.

Psychologist Frank D. Cox said that infatuation could be distinguished from romantic love only when looking back on a particular case of being attracted to a person but which may also evolve into a mature love. Goldstein and Brandon describe infatuation as the first stage of a relationship before developing into a mature intimacy. Whereas love is "a warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion to another person", infatuation is "a feeling of foolish or obsessively strong love for, admiration for, or interest in someone or something", a shallower "honeymoon phase" in a relationship. Ian Kerner, a sex therapist, stated that infatuation usually occurred at the beginning of relationships, which is "[...] marked by a sense of excitement and euphoria, and it's often accompanied by lust and a feeling of newness and rapid expansion with a person".