Prepare a 3-4 page paper (not including title and reference page) in which you address the following 5 bullet points:
What did you learn about nature/nurture from watching this video (3-4 paragraphs)?
What did you learn about language development from this video (2-3 paragraphs)?
What learning theories were used in educating Genie.Give specific examples (1-2 paragraph)
What stage of development is Genie in according to Piaget, Erikson, and Kohlberg (support your discussion) (3-4 paragraphs)?
Review the APA ethical guidelines (at APA.org).Do you think the treatment of Genie was ethical (why or why not (2-3 paragraphs)?
Note: Your paper should follow APA format and include a title page and a references page. No abstract is necessary. The paper should look and flow like a normal paper. You can include headings/subheadings (e.g. Nature and Nurture), but please do not copy/paste the bullet point questions, followed by a response.
Submit a copy of your paper by clicking on the assignment in Canvas and uploading your document.
—————–
The following videos will be helpful in obtaining information for your paper:
1) Genie Wiley – TLC Documentary (12 min clip)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjZolHCrC8E (Links to an external site.)
2) Genie (almost 6 min video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H2POnmvbPo (Links to an external site.)
3) Genie- Short Video clips:
Genie (Part 1):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAialn0Q2ns (Links to an external site.)
Genie (Part 2):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71VpCkO-_Jg (Links to an external site.)
Genie (Part 3):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJSN456t6z8 (Links to an external site.)
Here are some articles that will also be helpful:
1) https://www.verywellmind.com/genie-the-story-of-the-wild-child-2795241 (Links to an external site.)
2) Treatment of Genie: https://highschoolbioethics.georgetown.edu/units/cases/unit3_4.html (Links to an external site.)
3) https://stmuhistorymedia.org/genie-wiley-the-feral-child/ (Links to an external site.)
Lastly, here is an APA template (7th edition APA). You can download and type directly in this template, removing the unnecessary information.
Language Development
The video presents a case of Genie, a feral 13-year-old child who had spent her entire life in isolation in a dark room. Her room was very dark and had only a tiny opening that let in light. She lived in their home in Los Angeles with her mother, father, and brother, who never communicated with her. She was always locked in the room, making it hard to hear any conversation, making it impossible to develop any language. By the time the social worker discovered her situation, she could not communicate, react to her environment, or interact with others. Critical period hypothesis, social pragmatism, and biological theories could explain Genie’s learning and language development.
Nature/Nurture
Nature/nurture question emerges in Genie’s story regarding language development. Linguistics and psychologists argue whether it is nature or nurture that supports language acquisition. Supporters of the nature debate argue that Genie’s situation resulted from her lack of contact with her environment and the lack of exposure to any language.
However, psychologists established issues with her mental health since although she had a normal cognitive function at birth, she grew to become an “abnormal” adult due to her traumatic experience (Harris & Pinker 2009). A positive upbringing would probably have helped her become a normal adult capable of communicating and normal development.
The lack of interaction and social development played a key role in the lack of language and normal development. Her brain was normal, but it was never exposed to language due to the isolation. Child psychologists and linguistic professionals restored Genie’s capacity to speak, but her foster system’s negative experiences caused regression in her language development.
Language Development
The critical period hypothesis (CPH) provides critical knowledge regarding language development. The theory suggests that humans develop language at a particular age through interactions with their immediate environment (Ireri et al., 2012). Genie could have learned the language and developed its use through interacting with and hearing others speaking, which was impossible for her due to the isolation. Children learn fast from their environment, explaining the need to create an enabling social setting for them to learn.
CPH explains factors that led to Genie’s failure to develop language and learn how to communicate. The theory suggests that after three years, when professionals can correct children’s language easily, language acquisition becomes harder and less successful (Ireri et al., 2012). Failure to expose Genie to the language since her childhood diminished her chances of language learning and acquisition. She never heard verbal communication, and her isolation since her critical development age incapacitated her learning capacity.
Learning Theories
Learning theories can explain Genie’s educating and learning process. The social pragmatic theory could support her learning since it elucidates that learning in children occurs through socialization and cognitive abilities. Social pragmatists and social learning theorists suggest that children learn through observing adults’ behavior, formulating meaning, and using their knowledge when interacting with others (Ireri et al., 2012). Since Genie lacked interaction, her education should include taking advantage of her cognitive capacity to provide appropriate social cues from which she can learn new words to communicate.
The biological theory can help to improve learning and language development in Genie. The brain’s left hemisphere plays a key role in recognizing speech that supports language acquisition. Broca’s brain region constructs language, while Wernicke’s region helps to understand language and use it appropriately. Genie’s brain declined in its function since she did not use it for many years. Therefore, biologists could support the functioning of the brain to promote learning and language acquisition.
Stage of Development is Genie
Piaget, Erikson, and Kohlberg have provided compelling theories regarding development since birth. According to Piaget’s Cognitive Stages of Development, Genie is stuck at the Sensorimotor Stage regardless of her age. During this stage, individuals are experimenting since they are unaware of how things react (Mercer, 2018). Genie learned about her environment through trial and error when she was set free.
According to Erikson’s eight psychosocial development stages, Genie is at the first stage, trust vs. mistrust. The individual is usually uncertain about her environment and looks towards others for stability (Mercer, 2018). Cognitively, Genie never passed this stage to achieve other developmental milestones.
Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development reveals that Genie is at the preconventional morality stage, which is the first stage. The stage is characterized by a lack of a personal code of morality (Mercer, 2018). Genie was incapable of understanding any code of morality at a personal or social level.
The ethics of Genie’s Treatment
Genie’s treatment is controversial from APA ethical guidelines’ perspective. Critics argue that the treatment was unethical and exploitation of the patient’s situation. Psychologists, psychiatrists, linguists took advantage of the situation to understand how the brain functions and language development. The process was unethical since none of the professionals was concerned about Genie’s feelings or wellbeing.
Genie presented the professionals with a natural experiment to answer questions regarding how people learn. Instead of offering treatment, the scientists wanted to study her like a lab rat. They almost engaged in a contest regarding who would have the advantage of studying her. Unfortunately, even people who provided her shelter were taking advantage of her value as a natural experiment.
Conclusion
Genie presents a case of failure in language development due to isolation and lack of an enabling environment. She failed in childhood language development, which develops up to a specific age, after which the effort becomes almost futile. The critical period hypothesis, social pragmatism, and biological theories are useful in understanding language development and the potential for learning in Genie’s case. Thus, parents and primary caregivers should create a suitable environment to support learning and language development.
References
Harris, J.R. & Pinker, S. (2009). The Nurture Assumption: Why Children Turn Out the Way They Do. Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group.
Ireri, A.M., Mukuni, D., M., Mathuvi, P. N., Njagi, A. M., & Karugu, N. (2012). An overview of major biological and contextual factors in language acquisition. American Journal of Linguistics, 1(3), 33-39.
Mercer, J. A. (2018). Child development: Concepts and Theories. SAGE.
Order an Essay Now & Get These Features For Free:
Turnitin Report
Formatting
Title Page
Citation
Outline
