Florence Nightingale Effect

The Florence Nightingale Effect is a psychological complex where people who are entrusted with the care and wellbeing of vulnerable patients begin to form a romantic attraction and often erotic attraction towards their charges. Medical workers, such as nurses, are typically at risk, and it is a form of psychological countertransference. The effect can also occur in patients who see medical workers as their protector and then develop feelings for them. It was named after nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale.

Instances of Florence Nightingale Effect in Fiction

*The Florence Nightingale Effect is referenced in the movie Back to the Future, in fact spurring a major plot point, when Marty McFly's mother Lorraine becomes entranced with Marty instead of his father George after Marty is hit with Lorraine's father's car instead of George. This is stated directly by Dr. Emmett Brown, and is also a divergence in the original timeline which poses an existential threat to Marty.
*In the new Gen¹³ miniseries (2008), when Bobby "Burnout" Lane is left blinded during an explosion, Caitlin Fairchild is shown actively caring for him and providing with care and support. Her other teammembers suppose she may be developing the "Nightingale Effect" for her blind friend, but another character downtones her actions, claiming that Caitlin would act in such a way for everyone of her friends in need.

ee also

*Stockholm syndrome