Psychologist explains clever reason why Jamie never makes crucial admission in Netflix's Adolescence
Topics: Adolescence, Explained, Netflix, TV And Film, Tyla Exclusive
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: Adolescence, Explained, Netflix, TV And Film, Tyla Exclusive
The hype for Adolescence clearly isn't going away anytime soon with many people still in shock after rattling through the entire season in just one sitting.
In fairness, the limited series is only compromised of four episodes, but it's clear each and every minute packs a punch - something made even more impressive when you consider the fact each episode was shot in just one continuous take.
One of the most emotionally-intense scenes throughout Adolescence takes place in the third episode where 13-year-old Jamie Miller, who is accused of violently murdering his female classmate, Katie, sits down with psychologist Briony Ariston (Erin Doherty), who is called in to assess his understanding of the severe situation at hand.
And, it goes without saying, don't read on if you're trying to avoid spoilers...
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Netflix viewers first meet Briony when she brings Jamie a hot chocolate, as well as half a cheese and pickle sandwich, before the pair sit down for one of the arguably most haunting pieces of dialogue in all of Adolescence.
During the chat, Jamie's character begins to unravel and we're given a glimpse into his dark and violent nature, with the series as a whole expertly tackling a number of extremely topical subjects like misogyny, incels, the online 'manosphere', toxic masculinity and children's safety when it comes to the internet.
And now, a real-life psychologist, Dannielle Haig, has explained the reason as to why Jamie never makes a 'crucial' admission in the scene - something he later U-turns on in the fourth and final episode when he reveals his plans to plead guilty for Katie's murder.
Now, in this scene, Jamie doesn't admit to the crime but he does continuously say he 'didn’t do anything wrong' - something which Dannielle says is a seriously 'crucial detail'.
"That phrase suggests Jamie has rationalised his actions in a way that allows him to avoid feeling guilt," she explained. "He might believe he was justified in what he did, or he may be struggling to differentiate between legal guilt and moral guilt."
Dannielle continued to note that it is possible that the teen may even see himself as the victim, theorising: "Perhaps he felt provoked, manipulated, or even that he had no other choice.
"This kind of thinking is not uncommon in adolescents who have been exposed to extremist viewpoints or who lack emotional maturity."
Such children can 'struggle with moral reasoning', particularly when their sense of right and wrong has been 'shaped by external influences rather than internal reflection'.
The psychologist continued: "There’s also the question of whether Jamie is in denial. Some individuals, particularly young people, convince themselves of a version of events that is easier to live with.
"If he believes he 'didn’t do anything wrong', it may be because accepting the alternative would be psychologically unbearable."
Dannielle resolved: "This line is so significant because it challenges our traditional understanding of guilt.
"Admitting to a crime isn’t the same as processing it, and Adolescence forces us to consider what justice really means when the person involved may not even fully grasp their own culpability."
The expert notes that there are several psychological explanations for why Jamie never explicitly confesses - one possibility being dissociation, a defence mechanism where the mind detaches from traumatic or overwhelming events as a way of coping.
"If Jamie can’t fully process what he has done, he may genuinely struggle to articulate it," Dannielle tells Tyla.
Another explanation is cognitive dissonance.
The psychologist highlights: "If Jamie was exposed to harmful ideologies, manipulated by others, or even acting out of misplaced anger or fear, he may have mentally reframed his actions in a way that prevents him from accepting full responsibility.
"Admitting to the crime would force him to confront something deeply uncomfortable: that he is capable of taking a life."
And, lastly, there's also the element of control.
"In a situation where he has lost autonomy; arrested, questioned, and scrutinised, staying silent could be a subconscious way of retaining power," Dannielle points out. "If he withholds the truth, he dictates the narrative on his own terms, rather than surrendering to the labels imposed upon him.
"The ambiguity of his silence is what makes the show so compelling. It forces the audience to question whether Jamie is unwilling or unable to admit the truth, and what that means for our understanding of guilt and justice."
Adolescence is available to stream on Netflix now.