Genie Following Science In The Shadows Case Study

Abstract
This study examined language acquisition and accidently observed the effects of sociological isolation of a teenager who had been locked away from the world for thirteen years. Doctors along with scientist of Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles tested Genie for multiple medical conditions whilst no conclusive results. Doctors could not predict the origin of Genies learning curves yet they employed with her daily to achieve results. Genies case was sensitive in nature, with many obstacles for her to overcome while being bombarded with international coverage furthermore she had no personal time to truly communicate. Genie spent her youth as a test subject in scientific research with no concrete evidence of her actual limitations or achievements. As an exceptional subject Genie gave the world a glimpse into a

darker side of the world as well as blunders in science.

Without ever knowing her real name, the world only knows her as Genie and she gave us a backstage pass in uncertainty of the future for a wild child.
Keywords: symbolic-conflict, structural-isolation, nature v nurture, cognitive development
Sociology Blunders of a Child Beaten not Broken
Following Science in the Shadows
November 4, 1970 the world came to know a rigorously victimized, uncivilized, emaciated and completely isolated girl who would come to be known as “Genie” the wild child (). Genie’s childhood, if that is what we can call it, was painfully fiendish as well as inconceivable by any parent, would become the human embodiment of sociological research. The observation of this young girl intentionally was meant as a good deed, but would become a mistake that society would not attempt again as the by-product indicated harmful effects on their test-subject. Genie was a treasure to the scientific community, as it was extremely rare to come across a feral child, but like

feral children before her such as Victor they would be the opportunity science needed to create new distinguished theories and abolish the ones they refute. Research that was conducted on Genie was extensive, never ending and she has been a gem for the sociological community for decades testing the boundaries of Marx sociological theory as well as pushing the limits on Nature V. Nurture including the impact of social-isolation. The theory of Marx is a premises of Social-Conflict and is well versed in Sociology but not widely accepted as most believe it is a bias point of view. Nature V. Nurture is still an ongoing battle as scientist cannot compromise as to which is more dominate in theory. Genie’s testing never leads to disproving one theory or another, rather it left a great more deal of questions not only to the public but the scientific community. This case was closed after funding was cut off, in addition the world witnessed the first blunder in sociology causing chaos to those involved leaving Genie in a state worse off than she was before. As a collective we may never know the true benefits of this case or the harm it extended to Genie who is now a wild child in the state of no closure.
The Rescue
In 1958 Genie was susceptible to the abuse and isolation of her father Clark Wiley. Believing that she was mentally retarded Genie was secured in her room day in and day out for 12 years. Alternately tethered to a potty seat or tied up in a sleeping bag in a mesh-sided crib under a metal cover, Genie had contact only with her abusive father during nearly 12 years of confinement (Jones, 2008, p. 1). Genie was beaten daily by her father, only fed baby food and milk, she was severely malnourished. In 1970, Genie was taken out of her home by her mother, who went to social services with her daughter, after they saw the poorly developed young girl she was taken from her parents and placed in the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles.
Cognition Effects on Genie
When Genie was discovered by the sociological world they notice a complete lack of cognitive function or rather brain development. One must ask how social isolation affects cognitive development does it weaken the brain or not. What are the long term side effects and can it be repaired or will it inevitably be a state of mayhem? Genie was stated to have the mind of an infant when she was taken, she would not speak, could not swallow, having no signs of normal development.
Isolation effects on cognitive development. Studies have shown that social isolation as a child in the critical stage causes cognitive, social impairments that last into the state of adulthood. Severe isolation “prevents cell that make up white brain matter from maturing and producing the right amount of myelin, the fatty "insulation" on nerve fibers that helps them transmit long-distance messages within the brain” (Boston Children’s Hospital, 2012, p. 1). Genies isolation occurred during a critical period of learning and so her oligodendrocytes had failed to develop in her prefrontal cortex, which is the region of the brain that is paramount for “decision making, working memory, and social function” states Corfas (). After research the question remains, was Genie born mentally retarded or was isolation a key factor in her outcome? The implications of this theory suggest that without proper social interaction the brain neuro receptors will cease to function.
The outcomes. The end result of Genies brain development first began as progress and in the end she regressed as she never had any stable conditions to learn from. Genie did learn sign language along with abdicated speaking all together as a result of more abuse sustained in foster homes and instability. Genies brain function did not mature as the doctors had hoped, but for a brief moment Genie was the prize pupil of study advocating a possible resolution to brain impairment. As no one has had contact with Genie since the study it begs the question did she ever succor the ability to function normally or did the environment she was involved in created a developmental block?
Social-Conflict Theory
According to Karl Marx Social-Conflict is “a system of economic, social, and political relationships maintained the power and dominance of the owners over the workers” (Schaefer, R.2015, ch. 2, p. 3). Based off this theory those involved with Genies case had a greater impact on her than they knew by over dictating power and authority, but was it harmful? The self-interest of those involved with Genie made it difficult for her to obtain a normal social and interactive life where as the doctors along with scientists were dominate as Genie was the exploited. The premises in which she was confined gave her little to no beneficial education or room to grow socially. It begs the ideology of human interact and the struggle to overthrow those who challenge authority, in this case who was the ultimate power?
Self-interest. The doctors together with scientist involved in Genies case had more interest in what name they could make in their prospective field, thus leaving Genie to the harsh reality that learning is something we must do on our own. Curtiss, who worked on speech acquisition with the subject, was genuinely infatuation by Genies charisma moreover pulled her in, it was vividly clear that this was a better impact on Genie than others who worked with her. James Kent Genies psychologist made clear she should be home with her mother, which was an indication he was not getting the results he wanted as a consequence he was done with the case as it was not benefiting his work. Through Kent it can be concluded that this began the struggle of power for those overseeing Genies care. Butler in charge of education with the feral child was simple using Genie to make a name for herself, but there was no compelling evidence that Butler abused Genie when she was in her care and Butler even took time to teach Genie rather than study her. Rigler was Genies last stop during her treatment at the hospital, for 4 years she lived in the Rigler’s home again, only being studied daily, eventually funding was stopped and since the Rigler’s got a stipend as foster parents they decided to let Genie go as caring for her no longer benefited them. This lack of involvement and teaching was a clear indication that inequality ran high as did the extortion of Genie a girl without a chance.
Macro level. Accusation flew high in this study making it a shut and close case of lack of harmony within a society or the sub-culture in society. This was a very large group in charge of Genie and thus it eventually created a conflict of interest and those with more power would win the argument. The groups that played a pivotal role in this experiment where the doctors, scientist and those who granted funding for the research. The group in charge of finding can be seen as the dominate power, when their needs where misplaced by conflict they cancelled the projectThe imbalance of harmony of this large group created conflicts, thus, causing Genies productiveness to regress back it to its original state.
The results. The concluding results were not concrete and there was no evidence that had an impact on what the funding group wanted. The doctors involved lost sight of the project and Genie and thus they began to exploit this young girl by not having a constant balance of structure for her to progress. The lasting impact of this is that Genie never truly learned to socialize normally and due to major abuse and no positive influences she again stopped speaking the few words she did know. This is an example of a power struggle and with the loss of the power structure, it creates a chaotic world where one cannot develop normally and functionally. Social-Conflict is against those of a weak nature, allowing them to be used for one’s personal gain and the loss of their chance.
Nature V Nurture
What was the possibility that Genie was born mentally retarded? Was any medical test concrete enough to prove that she was born handicapped and unable to mature at a normal rate? What are the possibility this was passed down to her from her mother who was also considered too slow. Was the fact that she received a non-loving home and parental figures the primal cause of the major outcome of Genies disability.
Nature V Nurture theory. Nature theory states that more abstract traits such as intelligence, personality, aggression, and sexual orientation are also encoded in an individual's DNA (Powell, 2010, p. 1). Nurture theory reviles that our behavioral aspects originate only from the environmental factors of our upbringing (Powell, 2010, p. 2). Nature contributed to the genetic make-up of Genie passing down traits of behavior, physical appearance and personality so again what genes di this young girl receive from her parents? Nurture plays the major role in physical development, it also contributes to the standing of mental development and with the lack of nurturing it can be concluded that proper physical and mental development will vanish from a child.