Adolescence: Real Psychologist on Why Katie Was Killed by [Spoiler]

Psychologist Dr. Amani analyzed Netflix’s Adolescence and explained the reasons behind Jamie Miller killing Katie Leonard. In a TikTok video, she stated that multiple influences contributed to the crime, including social media, peer dynamics, family life, and brain development. She referenced psychological theories to outline how these elements interact and impact adolescent behavior.

WARNING: Spoilers below!

Psychologist Dr. Amani tells why Jamie killed Katie in Adolescence

Psychologist Dr. Amani analyzed Adolescence and stated that multiple factors influenced Jamie Miller’s decision to murder Katie Leonard, including social media, peer pressure, family dynamics, and his developing brain. “There needs to be a collective interest and approach to addressing psychological wellbeing and development,” she explained, emphasizing that no single individual or factor is solely responsible (via Dexerto).

Dr. Amani referenced Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, which outlines five key influences on a child’s development: the chronosystem (changes over time), macrosystem (cultural and social values), exosystem (indirect environments), mesosystem (connections between home, school, and peers), and microsystem (immediate surroundings).

She stated, “Even in the fact that the school was under pressure, the fact that the dad had to do extra hours to work, that speaks more to a political and economic climate than it does as those people as individuals.”

She also discussed Erik Erikson’s theory of identity versus role confusion, explaining that during adolescence, individuals struggle to define themselves while seeking social acceptance. “They’re trying to figure out where they should be in the world and who they are as people. When they outsource that to social media, the amount of information that their brain can take in, it makes them very vulnerable,” she noted.

Dr. Amani highlighted Jamie’s emotional processing in Episode 3, stating, “Shame and guilt and insecurity to anger and trying to gain control – that needs to be paid attention to as well.” She emphasized that boys often display anger due to underlying trauma.

“When I’m working with boys, I’ve seen high levels of anger and destruction. There’s actually underlying depression and trauma, which tend to come along with shame and poor sense of self.”

She concluded that addressing these issues requires systemic change. “Invest in these things, be very conscious of them, and do something about the things that are happening.”

Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on ComingSoon.