Crushes might feel like a whirlwind of unpredictable emotions, but there is a scientific explanation behind them.
“A crush is inherently an attraction,” said Larry Zweifel, professor of psychiatry at the University of Washington. “You meet someone, and you’re attracted to their personality or attracted to their physical appearance, but there’s not been a relationship that’s been firmly established.”
There are three main neurotransmitters associated with developing a crush.
“There’s dopamine, which is a neurochemical that promotes motivation,” said Zweifel. “There’s serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in pleasure, and then there’s norepinephrine, which plays an important role in arousal.”
These neurotransmitters signal a motivation to spend time with certain individuals, reinforce the feelings that come from interacting with a crush and heighten alertness during those interactions, Zweifel said.
Oxytocin also plays a role in the formation of crushes by helping foster bonds between people, Zweifel said.
“You spend more time together, and those oxytocin levels continually rise to help form that connection, that strong bond between individuals,” Zweifel said.
Other factors outside of brain chemistry can influence the development of crushes.
“Proximity, similarity and physical attractiveness are often linked [to crushes], and when these reach a critical level, the emotional attachment increases,” Zweifel said.
Similarity often stems from having a shared cultural experience, while physical attractiveness is rooted in appearance but can be influenced by a person’s familiar features, Zweifel said.
Once a crush has developed, it can lead to overwhelming emotions and compulsive behavior.
“So you’re compulsively checking social media to see what that individual may have just posted, or if they say they’re going to send you a text message, you’re compulsively checking, so there’s a lot of dopamine, because the promise of the future, promise of an interaction with that individual, is something that’s highly rewarding,” Zweifel said.
When these intense emotions accumulate, they can create stressful feelings.
The best way to manage stress that may arise from crushes is by having a core support group, such as friends or family, that are comforting to talk to, Zweifel said.
A strong support group helps reduce stress by providing an outlet to express feelings and receive reassurances.
Crushes can also have positive impacts, Zweifel said.
“You develop an attraction towards someone, and then maybe that turns into a meaningful relationship and someone that you enjoy spending time with,” said Zweifel. “Even if it doesn’t turn into a long-term romantic relationship, maybe it becomes a long-term friendship.”