Innamoramento

Innamoramento is an Italian term that denotes the process of falling in love or becoming enamored with another person. The word derives from innamorare, meaning to cause someone to fall in love, with innamoramento describing the state or phase of that experience. It is commonly used to distinguish the initial, intense attraction from a more mature, lasting form of love (amore).

Typical features of innamoramento include persistent preoccupation with the beloved, intense longing, idealization of the other person, and heightened emotional arousal. People experiencing it often feel euphoria or energy in the beloved’s presence and may experience cognitive biases that exaggerate the beloved’s positive traits while downplaying flaws.

The duration of innamoramento is usually weeks to months. It can develop into a stable, long-term relationship or fade as feelings normalize. From a neuropsychological perspective, the phase is associated with heightened dopamine and norepinephrine activity, increased arousal, and sometimes lower serotonin, which can contribute to obsessive thinking and in some cases emotional volatility.

In cultural and literary contexts, innamoramento has been a prominent theme in Italian literature and in discussions of courtly love traditions, where it is often presented as a necessary precursor to deeper attachment or as a particular social or personal ordeal. In psychology, it is treated as a form of infatuation or early-stage love, distinct from enduring attachment and commitment.