Crush (love)

Puppy love (also known as a crush, calf love or kitten love) is an informal term for feelings of love, romance, or infatuation, often felt by young people during their childhood and adolescence. It is named for its resemblance to the adoring, worshipful affection that may be felt by a puppy. It may also be able to describe short/long-term love interest.

The term can be used in a derogatory fashion, describing emotions which are shallow and in comparison to other forms of love such as romantic love.Sigmund Freud, however, was far from underestimating the power of early love; recognizing the validity of "the proverbial durability of first loves: on reviendra toujours à ses premières amours."

Puppy love is a common experience in the process of maturing. It may be difficult to not have cases of "puppy love" sometime during the maturing process. The object of attachment may be a peer, but the term can also be used to describe the fondness of a child for an adult, for example, students being attracted to their teachers, their friends' parents, or children to older celebrities: indeed, some consider that in puppy love 'usually the object of such infatuation is some highly idealised person who is some years older—a teacher, a friend of the family, an actor, or rock star'—and typically the sufferer is 'greatly moved with emotion... spending much time in daydreams and wishful fantasies about them. When people have wishful fantasies about their love interest, they may have a fantasy about having their first kiss with them, or maybe have a fantasy about marrying them one day.'

However, 'Puppy love gives young people a new sense of individualism. For the first time, they love someone outside their family'. Others warn, however, that 'the old saying may be true: "If you marry on the strength of puppy love, you'll end up leading a dog's life."'

Canadian singer Paul Anka released the single "Puppy Love" in 1960, reaching #2 in the Billboard Hot 100 and #33 in the UK singles charts. The remake by Donny Osmond peaked at US #3 in 1972. Country singer Dolly Parton's first single, released in the 1950s when she was a child, was also called "Puppy Love". American singer Barbara Lewis in January 1964 released her song entitled "Puppy Love". Australian rock band Front End Loader feature the song "Puppy Love" on their 1992 eponymous album. Bow Wow released a song called "Puppy Love" in January 2001. American hip hop artist Brother Ali has also composed a song about puppy love titled "You Say (Puppy Love)".

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