Having a crush is a part of being human. We have all been there!
We meet a person who we just can’t get out of our head. They give us butterflies, and we really want to get to know them better.
A crush is fun and exciting, and I want to talk about them today!
In this article, we will look at some little-known psychological facts about crushes.
What is a Crush?
So, what actually is a crush?
When we have a crush on someone, we tend to find ourselves super attracted to them. They give us butterflies and our heart skips a beat when thinking about them!
A crush is usually a short-term and intense feeling.
It normally comes before a relationship, and before we have a romantic connection with the person.
When we are crushing on someone, we simply cannot get them out of our head!
Are Crushes Always Romantic?
When we talk about crushes, we tend to think of them as a romantic and sexual attraction to someone.
But, crushes aren’t always romantic!
According to psychologist Christie Kederian, we can also have platonic crushes. We may meet people that we just really want to be friends with.
This idea of a platonic crush is definitely not a new one.
You have probably heard of the term man-crush, which refers to an intense non-romantic admiration for someone.
So, psychologists do agree that man-crushes are real!
Fun Psychological Facts About Crushes
Now we know what having a crush feels like, let’s look at some psychological facts about having a crush.
Most Crushes Last Around Four Months
When we start having a crush on someone, we tend to feel as if it will last forever!
We will be thinking about them all the time and always wondering where they are and what they are thinking of us.
But, did you know that crushes only usually last around four months? According to psychologists, four months is the time limit on crushes.
So, what happens after the four months?
Well, if you still have adoring feelings for the person you have been crushing on, you are probably in love!
You Are More Likely To Have a Crush on Someone Who Looks Like Your Parent
Freud is probably cheering from the afterlife with this psychological fact about crushes.
You have probably heard that we tend to date people who look like our parents, and it’s totally normal to feel pretty grossed out about this.
But, there have been studies that actually back this theory up.
A researcher at the University of St Andrews discovered that men will usually go for women who look like their mothers when looking for a partner.
He also found the same thing happens with women.
Of course, this isn’t because we want to be in a relationship with our parents.
It is all about familiarity!
When we date people who look familiar, we tend to feel safer and more secure around them.
Having a Crush Can Be Pretty Stressful
Do you remember your crush at school?
Perhaps you really fancied someone in your class and all your friends knew about it. So, they would always wind you up about it!
This was always pretty embarrassing, but did you know that the stress you felt wasn’t just because of your annoying friends?
When we are around someone that we have a crush on, we tend to get more nervous.
Attraction makes us feel stressed, and this means that our bodies will react to the stress in an anxious way.
Hearts racing, sweaty palms, and fidgeting are all signs of stress – and signs of having a crush!
You Are More Likely To Develop A Crush on Someone Like You
Remember how I said that we were attracted to people that seemed familiar to us?
Well, we don’t just get crushes on people who look like our parents! In fact, you are more likely to develop a crush on someone who is like you.
We tend to be more attracted to people who have the same values and goals as us. The people we crush on will also often have similar personality traits to ourselves.
This is because we find comfort in familiarity. Plus, we like to see the best version of ourselves in our crush!
When You Have a Crush, You Tend To Believe They Are Perfect
Ah, the infamous rose-tinted glasses. Yup, they are definitely real!
When you have a crush on someone, you tend to believe that they are perfect in every way.
You won’t really see any bad traits in their personality and be completely enamored by them.
Someone will appear much more attractive to you when you have a crush on them, too.
Having a Crush Can Feel Like an Addiction
When we have a crush on someone, there are chemicals in our brains at play.
Have you ever heard of oxytocin?
This is often referred to as the love hormone and makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It is linked to childbirth, but is also connected to crushes!
According to a 2014 study, people at…
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