In William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is influenced by the psychology and cognition of the adolescent brain which causes him to be impulsive, fall into the trap of a teenage crush, and have excess dopamine. Romeo’s experiences and decisions are all acts of impulse. One example of when Romeo acts impulsive is when Romeo and Juliet decide they are going to get married the day that they met. Some research that proves that teens are impulsive is “teenagers react more impulsively towards threatening situations compared to adults and children” (Underwood). A second example of when Romeo acts impulsive is when Romeo kills Tybalt because he feels threatened by him. Romeo and Tybalt fight leading to “This shall determine that. …show more content…
Romeo was obsessed with Rosaline and was depressed when he found out she didn’t like him back and as soon as he saw Juliet he completely forgot about her. The text says “You don’t want a teenage crush to become a fixation, a young person unable to stop daydreaming and fantasizing all the time about this person” (Pickhardt). Romeo and Juliet supposedly fell in love right as they met, but I feel like it was more that Romeo had been heartbroken and was very weak, and their love wasn’t real. The text says “When the devout religion of my eye Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fire; And those who often drowned could never die, Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars! One fairer than my love! The all-seeing sun. Ne'er saw her match since first the world began.” (Shakespeare 1.2.91-96). Romeo makes a bad decision to go into the Capulet’s Orchard just to see Juliet again because he feels that they are in love. “Crushes have more to do with fantasy than with reality, and they tell much more about the admirer than the admired. It’s because they usually prove unrealistic that in a relatively short time, they soon wear off” (Pickhardt). Romeo sees Juliet at the party and instantly goes up to her and confesses his feelings. “If I profane with my unworthiest hand This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: [Romeo takes Juliet’s hand] My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss” (Shakespeare