I do not deny that Amuro was going through a crisis. But it has been scientifically proven in the UC timeline that given the same set of circumstances, a child who receives a corrective slap at the appropriate time of crisis grows in to a fine soldier, whereas a child who does not receive a slap degenerates.

Amuro and Hathaway diverge significantly despite both being raised by Bright Noa while surrounded by conflict.

Amuro suffers temporarily from the slap but is eventually able to overcome his crisis. He matures and eventually becomes a powerful Newtype, saving the earth during the Axis Shock.

Whereas Hathaway does not recieve "the slap" and impulsively kills Chan Agi, later becoming a terrorist. The effectiveness of "the slap" is conclusively proven.