Limerence Test

The IDRlabs Limerence Spectrum Test (IDR-LST) was developed by IDRlabs as a self-assessment tool designed to explore patterns of emotional attachment, longing, and idealization associated with the psychological experience known as limerence. The concept of limerence originates from the work of psychologist Dorothy Tennov (1979), who described it as a state of obsessive infatuation characterized by intrusive thoughts, idealization of the beloved, and emotional dependence on signs of reciprocation. The IDR-LST is also informed by attachment theory, as developed by Bowlby (1969) and expanded upon by Mikulincer and Shaver (2007), which provides a framework for understanding how early attachment patterns influence adult romantic and emotional behaviors.

Drawing on these theoretical perspectives, the IDR-LST examines how obsessive longing and idealization manifest in cognitive, emotional, and relational domains. It explores how individuals might experience limerence as part of a broader attachment style or temperament, reflecting varying degrees of emotional intensity, dependency, and imaginative engagement. While inspired by existing research, the IDR-LST is an independent project and is not associated with any specific researchers, institutions, or academic studies within the field of limerence or attachment psychology.

The test provides interpretive feedback across eight core dimensions that represent common traits observed in limerent experiences:

Obsessive Idealization: Individuals high in this trait tend to fixate on an idealized version of their “limerent object”—a person they are intensely drawn to. Desire is amplified through the perception of perfection and the uncertainty of reciprocation, leading to cycles of admiration and self-doubt.

Intrusive Fantasy: This dimension reflects the tendency to experience persistent, involuntary thoughts about the limerent object. These individuals often derive emotional satisfaction from imagined interactions, finding fantasy more vivid and rewarding than reality.

Emotional Volatility: Limerent individuals may experience rapid emotional fluctuations, moving from euphoria to despair depending on subtle cues or perceived signals from the person they desire. This volatility sustains emotional engagement even in the absence of real reciprocity.

Unabashed Sincerity: People with strong limerent traits often express their feelings with raw emotional honesty. They view their depth of longing as evidence of authenticity and emotional sensitivity rather than vulnerability.

Parasocial Fixation: This trait captures the formation of one-sided emotional attachments to distant or unattainable figures—such as celebrities, fictional characters, or online personalities—where imagination substitutes for real intimacy.

Aestheticized Agony: Many limerents find a bittersweet pleasure in the pain of unreciprocated affection. The emotional turmoil becomes romanticized, seen as evidence of profound feeling and emotional depth.

Avoidant Reality: Some individuals use fantasy as a form of emotional self-protection, preferring imagined intimacy over the risks of real-world rejection or relational failure.

Temporal Fixation: This final dimension reflects a tendency to live in suspended anticipation, continuously waiting for the imagined future moment when their feelings will be returned, rather than engaging fully in the present.

As the publishers of this free online Limerence Spectrum Test, IDRlabs has sought to make the assessment as reliable and valid as possible through statistical analysis and internal validation procedures. However, it is important to emphasize that free online instruments such as the IDR-LST are not substitutes for professional psychological evaluation, counseling, or diagnosis. The test is provided solely for educational and self-exploratory purposes and should be used as a tool for reflection rather than clinical interpretation. For additional information about this and other online assessments, please refer to our official Terms of Service.