The curious association between romance and adverse circumstances is based on an extension of emotional attribution theory, which postulates that romantic notions are evoked when nonspecific physiological arousal is attributed to another person or to an interpersonal relationship. Data from a survey on stressful life events was examined to ascertain if there was evidence of the predicted association between the occurrence of stressful life events and falling in love. Subjects were 461 adults representing four cultural/residential groups, i.e., Anglos, Mexican Americans, Mexicans living in Texas but raised in Mexico, and Mexicans raised and living in Mexico. Respondents reported whether they had experienced any of 110 life-events within a 12-month span. Those entering love relationships experienced a greater number of life events than those who did not. Anglos were also more likely to have experienced a large number of life events. (Author/HLM)