Do I Have a Crush Quiz: Love or Illusion?

In high school, I was that girl who was always falling in love. First with the boy sitting next to me, then with the PE teacher (yes, classic!), and later with my older brother’s best friend. Each time, I tortured myself with the question: is this real love or just my imagination running wild? These experiences inspired me to create the ‘Do I Have a Crush?’ quiz, which helps people understand their feelings and stop reading tea leaves.

What is a “Crush”?

A “crush” is a fascinating phenomenon in the realm of human emotions, describing a special state of infatuation when someone experiences strong romantic attraction, often one-sided and sudden. In psychology, this phenomenon is called “limerence” – a term introduced by psychologist Dorothy Tennov in the 1970s after extensive research into the nature of romantic feelings.

Interestingly, different cultures describe this state in various ways, and each definition adds a new shade of understanding. For example, in Japanese culture, there’s a special concept “koi” (恋), which literally means “longing for someone.” In their understanding, such infatuation is the first step towards true love, which they call “ai” (愛). Many other cultures also have their unique terms for describing this tremulous state of the soul, highlighting the universality of this experience in human nature.

From a scientific perspective, a crush is a real chemical explosion in the brain. Research shows that at this moment, our body releases a whole cocktail of hormones: noradrenaline, which makes the heart beat faster, dopamine, creating euphoria, and phenylethylamine, causing excitement and joy.

Types of Crushes

Let’s identify several main types of crushes, each with its unique characteristics and manifestations.

Platonic Crush

The history of platonic love originates from the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. He believed that true love is the pursuit of spiritual perfection through admiring the beautiful in another person. In modern understanding, a platonic crush is when you’re charmed by someone’s personality, intellect, or talent, but without sexual context.

Interestingly, studies show that platonic crushes can be even more enduring than romantic ones. This is explained by the fact that they’re based on deeper, unchanging qualities of personality rather than physical attraction, which can fade.

Passionate Crush

A passionate crush is a true neurobiological phenomenon. When we experience strong attraction to someone, our brain literally “goes crazy.” MRI studies of people in love show activation of the same brain regions as when using narcotic substances. Dopamine levels rise so high that a person can experience euphoria bordering on mania.

In this state, an interesting phenomenon occurs: the prefrontal cortex, responsible for critical thinking, partially “shuts down.” This is why people with crushes often don’t notice obvious flaws in their object of affection. Evolutionary psychologists believe this is a natural mechanism promoting reproduction – when we temporarily lose our ability for critical evaluation, the likelihood of pair formation increases.

Spiritual Crush

A spiritual crush is a special type of attachment that psychologists sometimes call a “resonance of souls.” It’s a state where you’re attracted not to someone’s appearance or intellect, but to their inner world, value system, and life philosophy. In this state, people often question how wise they are in their choice.

Research shows that this type of crush is more common among people with developed emotional intelligence and a tendency for self-analysis. Interestingly, a spiritual crush can develop even without meeting in person – for example, through correspondence or through someone’s creative work.

Signs of Having a Crush

A crush manifests through various signs, both physical and psychological, making each of us a bit strange.

Physical Signs

A crush triggers a whole cascade of physiological reactions in the body. Scientists from Amsterdam conducted a large-scale study involving over 100 people who admitted to having a crush. The results showed the following changes:

• 20-30% increase in heart rate when thinking about the crush
• Body temperature increase of 0.2-0.4 degrees
• 45% pupil dilation when seeing a photo of the crush
• Increased sweating and trembling in extremities
• Voice tone changes (especially noticeable in men)

Interestingly, these reactions are almost identical to those that occur in a state of stress. The only difference is that with a crush, they’re accompanied by positive emotions.

Psychological Signs

The psychological manifestations of a crush are no less interesting than the physical ones. Research in neuropsychology shows that having a crush changes brain function at the most fundamental level.

First, there’s a significant increase in dopamine concentration – the “pleasure hormone.” This leads to a state of euphoria, increased energy, and decreased appetite. Many people with crushes note that they can work around the clock or forget to eat.

Second, serotonin levels decrease to values observed in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. This explains the obsessive thoughts about the person, the desire to constantly check their social media, and analyze every word in their messages.

Difference Between a Crush and Love

The difference between a crush and love isn’t just a philosophical question. Modern neuroscience allows us to see how differently the brain works in these states.

During a crush, primarily the brain areas associated with the reward system are active – the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area. These are the same zones that activate during gambling or psychoactive substance use. Hence the similarity in symptoms: euphoria, obsession, mood swings.

Love, however, engages completely different brain regions – the prefrontal cortex and temporal lobes, responsible for attachment, empathy, and long-term planning. This is a more stable state based on deep understanding and acceptance of another person.

Interestingly, the process of transitioning from a crush to love takes an average of 12 to 18 months. This time is necessary for the brain to rewire neural connections and form new response patterns.

How Does the Quiz Work?

Our quiz is based on years of research in the psychology of emotions and interpersonal relationships. Each question is a carefully designed psychological indicator that analyzes various aspects of your behavior, emotions, and thoughts.

For example, the question “How often do you check this person’s social media?” is based on research about behavior patterns of people with crushes in the digital age. It was found that the frequency of checking a crush’s social media directly correlates with the intensity of feelings.

Another question – “Do you notice that you’ve started using the same words or gestures as this person?” – is based on the phenomenon of unconscious copying, which psychologists call “emotional contagion.” Research shows that people with crushes unconsciously begin to copy the speech patterns, gestures, and even walking style of their crush.

When developing the quiz, we also considered cultural characteristics and age differences in how crushes manifest. For example, teenagers typically show more intense emotional expressions and a greater tendency to idealize, while adults may experience more complex, ambivalent feelings.

It’s important to understand that the quiz results aren’t a diagnosis or a verdict. They’re more like a compass that helps you better navigate your own feelings. As my practice shows, sometimes the process of answering questions can be more informative than the final result. Observe your reactions, notice which questions evoke an emotional response or make you think.

After all, having a crush is an amazing state that makes our life brighter and more interesting. And even if it doesn’t develop into a deep feeling, it remains a valuable experience that helps us better understand ourselves and our desires.