Puppy love

Puppy love, also known as a crush, is an informal term for feelings of romantic
love, often felt during childhood and early adolescence.[1] It is named for its
resemblance to the adoring, worshipful affection that may be felt by a puppy. Puppy
love typically lasts between 2 months and 2 years, and is fueled by pre adolescent
hormones.

The term can be used in a derogatory fashion, presuming the affair to be shallow
and transient in comparison to other forms of love.[2] Sigmund Freud, however, was
far from underestimating the power of early love, recognizing the validity of "the
proverbial durability of first loves".[3]

Contents
Characteristics
Popular culture
See also
References

Characteristics
Puppy love is a common experience in the process of maturing.[4] The object of
attachment may be a peer, but the term can also describe the fondness of a child for
an adult. Most often, the object of the child's infatuation is someone years older,
like a teacher, friend of the family, actor, or musician, about whom the child will
spend their time daydreaming or fantasizing.[5]

A crush is described as a coming-of-age experience where the child is given a sense

of individualism because they feel intimate emotions for a person not part of their
own family.[6]

Popular culture
Canadian singer Paul Anka wrote and released the single "Puppy Love" in 1960,
reaching number 2 in the Billboard Hot 100. The remake by Donny Osmond
peaked at number 1 in the UK Singles Chart and number 3 in the US in 1972.[7]
Country singer Dolly Parton's first single, released in the 1950s when she was a
child, was also called "Puppy Love". singer Barbara Lewis released her song entitled
"Puppy Love" in January 1964. Australian rock band Front End Loader featured a
song called "Puppy Love" on their 1992 eponymous album. Bow Wow released a
song called "Puppy Love" in January 2001. hip hop artist Brother Ali wrote a song
about puppy love titled "You Say (Puppy Love)". The electric powwow group A Tribe
Called Red released a song titled "Native Puppy Love" on their self titled album.

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote short stories "valuing the intuitiveness of puppy love over
mature, reasoned affection...[its] 'unreal, undesirous medley of ecstasy and
peace'".[8]

See also
Attraction
Childhood friend
Childhood sweetheart
Infatuation
Limerence
New relationship energy
Puppy love in mainland China
Teen idol
Unrequited love

References
1. Ray E. Short (2004). Sex, Love or Romance. p. 16. "Simple infatuation is also
known as called a 'crush' or 'puppy love'. It commonly strikes those in the early
teens or younger."
2. Georgette Heyer (1974). Bath Tangle. London. pp. 284, 183. "calf-love...a sickly,
sentimental dream which only a moonstruck fool could have created!"
3. Sigmund Freud, On Sexuality (PFL 7) p. 67
4. Short, p. 13
5. Short, p. 16
6. M. H. Ford, Personal Power (2004) p. 124
7. "And They Call It Puppy Love" (https://web.archive.org/web/20161028023450/ht
tp://cutecutepuppies.com/and-they-call-it-puppy-love/#billboard-chart-puppy-lov
e-1972). Archived from the original (http://cutecutepuppies.com/and-they-call-it-
puppy-love/#billboard-chart-puppy-love-1972) on 2016-10-28. Retrieved
2014-11-11.
8. Ruth Prigozy (2002). The Cambridge Companion to F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Cambridge. p. 38.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Puppy_love&oldid=1061911512"

This page was last edited on 24 December 2021, at 20:43 (UTC).

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