Why does Beth hate Jamie?
Beth Dutton and Jamie Dutton are siblings from the show Yellowstone who have a bitter and hostile relationship. Beth and Jamie's relationship is marked by several points of tension, such as:
- Their conflicting loyalties and interests regarding the Yellowstone ranch and their father's political position
- Their unresolved trauma and resentment stemming from their mother's death and Beth's hysterectomy
- Their different personalities and coping styles, with Beth being more expressive and confrontational, and Jamie being more repressive and passive-aggressive
- Their lack of trust and empathy for each other, leading to frequent verbal and physical attacks
These points of tension can be explained by two theoretical perspectives: family systems theory and evolutionary psychology.
Family systems theory views the family as a complex social system, in which members interact to influence each other's behavior. According to this theory, Beth and Jamie's relationship can be understood as:
- A form of triangulation, where they involve their father John or other family members in their conflict to reduce their anxiety or tension. For example, Beth may side with John against Jamie when Jamie tries to impeach John as governor, while Jamie may side with his biological father Garrett Randall against John when Garrett urges him to kill his adoptive family¹.
- A result of their differentiation of self, which is their ability to maintain their identity and autonomy while staying emotionally connected to others. Beth may be more differentiated than Jamie, as she is more independent and expressive of her emotions, while Jamie may be less differentiated than Jamie, as he is more dependent and repressive of his emotions¹.
- A reflection of their family roles and patterns, which are shaped by their parents' expectations and behaviors. Beth may have adopted the role of the loyal and protective daughter, who follows her father's wishes and defends the ranch. Jamie may have adopted the role of the disloyal and ambitious son, who challenges his father's authority and seeks his own interests².
Evolutionary psychology applies the principles of natural selection and adaptation to explain human behavior as a form of intrasexual competition for parental resources and reproductive success. According to this theory, Beth and Jamie's relationship can be understood as:
- A function of their genetic relatedness, which determines how much they share their genes and interests. Beth and Jamie are not genetically related, as Jamie is adopted, which may reduce their cooperation and increase their competition. They may also have different levels of altruism or selfishness toward each other, depending on the costs and benefits of their actions³.
- A result of their sex, age, birth order, and parental investment, which influence their mating strategies and resource allocation. Beth is female and older than Jamie, which may give her an advantage in attracting mates and securing resources. Jamie is male and younger than Beth, which may make him more rebellious and risk-taking. Beth may receive more parental investment from John, as she is his biological daughter and his favorite child. Jamie may receive less parental investment from John, as he is his adopted son and his least favorite child³.
- A response to their ecological and demographic conditions, which affect their reproduction and survival. Beth and Jamie may face scarcity or threat from external forces, such as rival families or corporations, that challenge their ownership of the ranch. They may also face internal conflicts over inheritance or succession issues that affect their future prospects³.
(1) The evolutionary study of human family systems - Stephen T. Emlen, 1997. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/053901897036004001 Accessed 3/14/2023.
(2) 1.1: Theories Developed for Understanding the Family. https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Early_Childhood_Education/Child_Family_and_Community_(Laff_and_Ruiz)/01%3A_Theories_That_Help_Us_Understand_Families/1.01%3A_Theories_Developed_for_Understanding_the_Family Accessed 3/14/2023.
(3) Family Theory - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/family-theory Accessed 3/14/2023.
(4) Family Systems Theory - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/family-systems-theory Accessed 3/14/2023.
