Why is genie called the forbidden experiment? The American literary scholar Roger Shattuck called this kind of research study "The Forbidden Experiment " because of the exceptional deprivation of ordinary human contact it requires.
Full Answer
Is there such a thing as a forbidden experiment?
But here’s the catch: the forbidden experiment may belong to a smaller group of experimental problems that persistently seem meaningful but are not. Intuitively, we expect that while human nature interacts with human society in a typical child’s development, the natural and the social are in principle independent and distinguishable.
What was wrong with Genie in the Genie?
As an infant, a pediatrician had identified her as having some type of mental delay. So researchers were left to wonder whether Genie had suffered from cognitive deficits caused by her years of abuse or if she had been born with some degree of mental retardation.
How did Genie start to learn new words?
Despite scoring at the level of a 1-year-old upon her initial assessment, Genie quickly began adding new words to her vocabulary. She started by learning single words and eventually began putting two words together much the way young children do. Curtiss began to feel that Genie would be fully capable of acquiring language.
How old was Genie when she was discovered?
Background Genie's story came to light on November 4, 1970, in Los Angeles, California. A social worker discovered the 13-year old girl after her mother sought out services for her own health.
What was Genie's case?
Why was Genie quarantined?
How did Genie learn to speak?
How much did Genie weigh at UCLA?
Why was Genie named Genie?
What is the case name of the Wild Child?
Why did Genie's case fascinate psychologists?
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What does the term forbidden experiment mean?
Forbidden-experiment definition An experiment where an infant is isolated from the normal use of language in an attempt to discover the fundamental character of human nature or the origin of language.
Why is the forbidden experiment considered forbidden?
The American literary scholar Roger Shattuck called this kind of research study "The Forbidden Experiment" because of the exceptional deprivation of ordinary human contact it requires.
What is the forbidden experiment in The Secret of the Wild Child?
STACY KEACH: With Victor, Parisians had a chance to see human nature stripped of society and culture. This was a situation no one would set out to create on purpose. It was, therefore, referred to as "the forbidden experiment." The scientists in Paris quickly summoned Victor from the south of France.
What was Genie diagnosed with?
The pediatrician said that, although her illness prevented a definitive diagnosis, there was a possibility that she was mentally retarded and that the brain dysfunction kernicterus might be present, further amplifying her father's conclusion that she was severely retarded.
Why was Genie hoarding?
Genie was hoarding various objects such as books. She seemed to be developing a sense of self. A month later, when James Kent was leaving after one of their sessions, she held his hand in order to stop him. She seemed to be developing friendships with some of her adult helpers.
When did The Forbidden Experiment happen?
What can we learn from the wild child? In the seventh year of the French Republic (1799 to the rest of the world), some peasants of Tarn and Aveyron, in southern France, encountered a naked boy scavenging alone in their fields and forests.
Where is Genie Wiley now?
Today, Genie is a ward of the state of California. She reportedly lives in an adult foster care home somewhere in southern California. Psychiatrist Jay Shurley visited her on her 27th and 29th birthdays and characterized her as largely silent, depressed, and chronically institutionalized.
How long was Genie locked up?
"Feral Child" Genie Wiley was strapped to a chair by her parents and neglected for 13 years, giving researchers a rare chance to study human development.
Did Genie learn speak?
Linguists ultimately concluded that because Genie had not learned a first language before the critical period had ended, she was unable to fully acquire a language. Furthermore, despite the clear improvements in her conversational competence it remained very low, and her vocalizations remained highly atypical.
What does Genie's story teach us about language?
Genie failed to learn any kind of grammar. According to Chomsky this is what distinguishes the language of humans from the of animals. Genie could not grasp the difference between various pronouns or between active and passive verbs. In that sense she appeared to have passed the critical period.
What did the lawsuit filed by Genie's mother claim about the testing done on Genie?
Genie's mother filed a lawsuit against the researchers because she said that their true intentions were to make psychological discoveries instead of taking care of Genie. Substance of treatment that has no effect on a person apart from the person's belief in it.
What were Genie's behaviors when she was first discovered?
At the time of her discovery, she did not make any noises. Genie's father did not allow anyone to speak to her so she learned to keep silent because her father would also beat her with a stick whenever she made any noise, or he would bark and growl at her like a dog.
The Feral Child Nicknamed Genie | Psychology Today
The Feral Child Nicknamed Genie Sad case of child abuse sheds light on language production versus comprehension. Posted July 10, 2017 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader
When was Genie Wiley discovered?
The case of Genie Wiley came to light on November 4, 1970. Genie was discovered by a social worker when her mother, who was partially blind, went to apply for social services. Genie had been isolated in a small room starting at the age of 20 months until her discovery at 13 years and 9 months old.
Why was Anna kept isolated from others?
Additionally, why was Anna kept isolated from others? At approximately the time she reached the age of 20 months, this belief of Genie's father caused him to keep her as socially isolated as possible and until she reached the age of 13 years and 7 months he kept her locked alone in a room. During this time, Genie was strapped to a child's toilet or bound in her crib.
What was Genie's case?
Genie's case was one of the first to put the critical period theory to the test. Could a child reared in utter deprivation and isolation develop language? Could a nurturing environment make up for a horrifying past?
Why was Genie quarantined?
After an outbreak of measles, Genie was quarantined at her teacher's home. Butler soon became protective and began restricting access to Genie. Other members of the team felt that Butler's goal was to become famous from the case, at one point claiming that Butler had called herself the next Anne Sullivan, the teacher famous for helping Helen Keller learn to communicate.
How did Genie learn to speak?
Despite scoring at the level of a 1-year-old upon her initial assessment, Genie quickly began adding new words to her vocabulary. She started by learning single words and eventually began putting two words together much the way young children do. Curtiss began to feel that Genie would be fully capable of acquiring language.
How much did Genie weigh at UCLA?
Her rehabilitation team also included graduate student Susan Curtiss and psychologist James Kent. Upon her initial arrival at UCLA, Genie weighed just 59 pounds and moved with a strange "bunny walk.". She often spat and was unable to straighten her arms and legs.
Why was Genie named Genie?
The girl was given the name Genie in her case files to protect her identity and privacy.
What is the case name of the Wild Child?
Susan Curtiss explained the name in a 1997 Nova documentary titled, Secrets of the Wild Child . "The case name is Genie. This is not the person's real name, but when we think about what a genie is, a genie is a creature that comes out of a bottle or whatever but emerges into human society past childhood.
Why did Genie's case fascinate psychologists?
Part of the reason why Genie's case fascinated psychologists and linguists so deeply was that it presented a unique opportunity to study a hotly contested debate about language development. Essentially, it boils down to the age-old nature versus nurture debate.
