Editing Limerence (section)

=== Fear of rejection ===
Tennov's conception of fear of [[social rejection#Romantic|rejection]] was characterized by nervous feelings and shyness around the limerent object, "worried that your own actions may bring about disaster".<ref name="Tennov 1999 49">{{harvnb|Tennov|1999|p=49}}</ref> [[Awkwardness]], [[stuttering|stammering]], [[confusion]] and [[shyness]] predominate at the behavioral level.<ref name="Tennov 1999 49"/> She quotes the poet [[Sappho]] who writes "Sweat runs down in rivers, a tremor seizes [...] Lost in the love-trance."<ref>{{harvnb|Tennov|1999|pp=48–49}}</ref> One of Tennov's interviewees, a 28-year-old truck driver, said "It was like what you might call stage fright, like going up in front of an audience. [...] I was awkward as hell."<ref>{{harvnb|Tennov|1999|pp=49–50}}</ref> Fisher et al. has suggested that fear in the presence of the beloved is caused by elevated levels of [[dopamine]].<ref name="fisher2002"/>

Many of the people Tennov interviewed described being normally confident, but suddenly shy when the limerent object is around, or being only in this state of fear with certain limerent objects but not others.<ref>{{harvnb|Tennov|1999|pp=51–54}}</ref> Tennov wondered if fear of rejection even serves an evolutionary purpose, by drawing out the courtship process to ensure a greater chance of finding a compatible partner.<ref name="Tennov 1999 247">{{harvnb|Tennov|1999|p=247}}</ref>