Romeo and Juliet effect

The Romeo and Juliet effect describes the intensification of romantic feelings in relationship when met by parental opposition, as coined by British actor and director Richard Driscoll[1] referencing the protagonists of the William Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet, whose families were opposed to their union.

[2] In 1972, Richard Driscoll, along with Keith Davis and Milton Lipetz, published results from a longitudinal study on relationships suggesting an underlying truth to such an idea.

In 1983, Malcolm Parks conducted a study to determine influences of peers and families on relationship involvement, which showed little to no support of Driscoll's previous research.

H. Colleen Sinclair found that approval or disapproval by friends had a great effect on perceptions of potential dating partners by the participants in her research.

Similarly to the previously discussed studies, however, Sinclair and colleagues found no significant support for the "Romeo and Juliet Effect" that parental and familial opinions are the prevailing influences.