But relationships start in different ways. Infatuation, for example, is passion alone. Romantic love is passion paired with intimacy. Even with these definitions, recognizing The Big L is still a mystery to many. To ask if it IS love indicates doubt.
Love is sure.
It's not that simple, says Arthur Aron, a psychologist at the State University of New York at Stony Brook who has conducted several studies of love and attraction. But when asked about it later, at the end of the experiment, most people contradicted their own responses and said they had fallen in love slowly and gradually. It means you're going to take the risk of telling them. To name those feelings love is a big decision. So you wait to see how strong and overwhelming it is before you call it love.