PH
A racing heart, sweaty palms, and heightened alertness aren't exclusive to romantic attraction.
Anxiety and excitement create some similar physiological responses.
Research on misattribution of arousal suggests people can sometimes interpret bodily arousal caused by one situation as attraction toward another person.
That doesn't mean attraction on an exciting date is fake—it means context can influence how we interpret our feelings.
Sometimes “butterflies” tell you that you're emotionally activated, not necessarily that you've found the perfect match.
© Association for Psychological Science