Reviews of 'Adolescence' Overlook the Root Causes of Teen Violence

Justin Coulson’s recent review of Adolescence on these pages presents the popular Netflix series as an accurate and moving depiction of the challenges boys face today, but the internet is buzzing with far more negative takes, including that it is unrealistic. The most common opinion, however, is that the series is a cautionary tale about the Internet and the corroding influence of men like Andrew Tate, whose misogynistic rhetoric is blamed for motivating the murder of a 14-year-old girl by the main character in the series, Jamie (age 13). However, I think most takes on this heart-wrenching series are missing several important clinical themes that deserve our attention.

As a clinician, I have been working with frightening and emotionally dysregulated children who suffer from borderline personality or conduct disorders. These children have never seen or heard of Tate or the male incel community. The crucial issues of bullying, intergenerational cycles of violence, and parental neglect are often overshadowed by the dominant, though important, narrative of male domination over women. On the other hand, mental illness often manifests in subtle ways, yet its impact can be devastating, and it’s shaped by a complex interplay of factors that extend far beyond the influence of social media alone.

Adolescence creator Stephen Shaw, who also plays Jamie’s father in the series, is portrayed as a loving parent—that is, until the last episode, where we see that he is emotionally dysregulated and frightening when provoked. The series goes on to reveal that the father, in turn, has suffered generational trauma, having been beaten by his own emotionally dysregulated father. Mental illness is insidious in families, passed down not so much genetically, but generationally. It hides in seemingly normal parents who have repressed their own childhood experiences, only to unconsciously pass them on to the next generation.

The theme of unconditional love and acceptance of children is also explored in the series. Jamie’s mother is sweet and passive, but completely oblivious to her son’s emotional distress. His traditionally masculine father is embarrassed by Jamie’s bookish and artistic nature. Jamie is acutely aware of his father’s shame, as seen in his conversation with the psychologist in episode three, which adds another layer to his psychological distress. This is a crucial theme that gets overlooked in the rush to attribute the boy’s violence to the most obvious and trendy influences.

If nothing else, the Netflix series should serve as a wake-up call about the need for stronger anti-bullying campaigns, psychoeducational courses for parents, and proactive measures to identify and support children who are being bullied online or who are bullies themselves.

The theme of bullying has also been given too little attention, which is a major loss for the series. Jamie is teased and bullied by the girl he ultimately murders. The reality is that most children who are bullied do not kill their tormentors, but many do take their own lives. How have we not learned, after generations of tragedy, about the toxicity and dangers of bullying? Whether it occurs in the schoolyard, bus, or via social media, as it does for Jamie, bullying has reached unprecedented levels. The old adage “kids will be kids” no longer applies when aggression is amplified by social media. If nothing else, this series should serve as a wake-up call about the need for stronger anti-bullying campaigns in schools, psychoeducational courses for parents, and proactive measures to identify and support children who are being bullied online or who are bullies themselves. Late last year, Australia became the first nation to ban youth under 16 from using social media. Federal policies protecting children and restoring parental authority are similarly needed in America.

The manosphere and Tate’s influence may be the most obvious lesson from this series, but perhaps not the most important one. Boys who gravitate toward Tate’s message are often struggling with depression, anger, and emotional neglect. They feel unseen by their parents, teachers, and peers, and especially by the opposite sex. They are often bullied, socially rejected, and isolated. The boys who commit violent acts in schools tend to be those who have experienced emotional or physical neglect, social difficulties, family breakdown, and, at some point, bullying.

I am not dismissing the disgusting influence of Tate and the manosphere on young men today, but this series raises several important themes that are being ignored in favor of focusing on the controversy of the moment. Rather than being a simple warning about toxic messages about masculinity, it should serve as a starting point for parents to discuss what their children are exposed to online and the pressures they face, especially the pressure to be sexualized at an increasingly young age.

There is growing debate over the diminishing authority of parents in schools and society, as children are given more autonomy to make significant life decisions without parental guidance. Adolescence serves as a stark reminder that parents matter more than any other influence. When parents are loving, affectionate, emotionally stable, and regulated—when they accept their children unconditionally, model resilience, and stay attuned to their adolescents’ social realities without fear—they increase the likelihood that their children will navigate adolescence, not unscathed, but stronger and more resilient.

If we truly want to help our children thrive in a world filled with confusing and contradictory messages, we need to have a real discussion about the root causes of adolescent violence. That discussion must go beyond simplistic blame to address the deeper, underlying issues shaping adolescent mental health today.

Erica Komisar, LCSW is a psychoanalyst and author of Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters and Chicken Little The Sky Isn’t Falling: Raising Resilient Adolescents in the New Age of Anxiety.