Cognitively, passionate love is characterized by which of the following?

• A. Calm, realistic view of the partner
• B. A focus on long-term planning
• C. An obsessive preoccupation with the other person and an overly idealized view of the partner
• D. Detachment from the partner

Answer: (C)

Passionate love hinges on the way you think about the other person. Cognitively, it shows up as an obsessive preoccupation with the beloved and an overly idealized view of them—thinking about them constantly, daydreaming about perfect qualities, and downplaying faults. This biased, highly positive evaluation makes the relationship feel extraordinary and consumes mental attention in the early, intense phase. That’s why this option best captures the cognitive pattern: it focuses on the persistent thoughts and idealization that define passionate love. In contrast, a calm, realistic view fits more with stable, long-term adjustments, focusing on practical planning, while detachment describes a lack of cognitive engagement with the partner.