Development (continued)Development (continued)

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

1. Define the term “wild child”1. Define the term “wild child”2. Explain theories of language development.2. Explain theories of language development.3.3. Discuss how neglect and social isolation Discuss how neglect and social isolation

affect cognitive (mental) and physical affect cognitive (mental) and physical development.development.

4.4. Evaluate the roles of nature (heredity) and Evaluate the roles of nature (heredity) and nurture (experiences) in development.nurture (experiences) in development.

Key Terms: wild (feral) child; abuse; nature vs. Key Terms: wild (feral) child; abuse; nature vs. nurture debate; language acquisition device; nurture debate; language acquisition device; babbling stage; one-word stage; two-word stage; babbling stage; one-word stage; two-word stage; Eric Lenneberg; Noam Chomsky; critical period; Eric Lenneberg; Noam Chomsky; critical period; plasticityplasticity

DefinitionDefinition

Feral ChildFeral Child – a child who has lived in – a child who has lived in

isolation starting at a very isolation starting at a very

young age and thereby young age and thereby has has

remained unaware of remained unaware of humanhuman

behavior and languagebehavior and language

Romulus & RemusRomulus & Remus

Mowgli & TarzanMowgli & Tarzan

Feral ChildrenFeral Children Victor – (early 1800s) The wild boy of Aveyron. Victor – (early 1800s) The wild boy of Aveyron.

Found in the woods at about 11 or 12. He was Found in the woods at about 11 or 12. He was probably partially mentally retarded. He never probably partially mentally retarded. He never learned to use language. learned to use language.

Isabelle – Found at 6 (1947). In two months she Isabelle – Found at 6 (1947). In two months she was combining words. Within a year she had was combining words. Within a year she had similar language to other 7 year olds.similar language to other 7 year olds.

Genie – (1970) 13 year old girl had lived whole life Genie – (1970) 13 year old girl had lived whole life in total isolation in her home. She may or may not in total isolation in her home. She may or may not have been of normal intelligence but never able to have been of normal intelligence but never able to acquire language. acquire language.

Victor – The Wild Boy of Victor – The Wild Boy of AveyronAveyron

Captured in January 1800Captured in January 1800

Estimated to be about Estimated to be about 10 years old10 years old

His desires did not go His desires did not go beyond his physical needs beyond his physical needs

He could not speak or He could not speak or understand human language understand human language

He preferred raw food and He preferred raw food and ripped of any clothes that ripped of any clothes that were put on himwere put on him

Victor - The Wild Boy of Victor - The Wild Boy of AveyronAveyron

Diagnosed as an Diagnosed as an “incurable idiot”“incurable idiot”

Put through Put through numerous tests numerous tests (psychological and (psychological and physiological)physiological)

Made small Made small progress in social progress in social behaviorbehavior

Never learned to Never learned to speak or understand speak or understand human languagehuman language

IsabelleIsabelle An illegitimate child she had been kept in isolation by her An illegitimate child she had been kept in isolation by her

grandfather and fed by her deaf-mute mother (who grandfather and fed by her deaf-mute mother (who communicated with her through gestures)communicated with her through gestures)

Found 1938 at the age of 6 in OhioFound 1938 at the age of 6 in Ohio Made Astonishing progressMade Astonishing progress: :

Day 1 -> first vocalizationDay 1 -> first vocalizationafter 2 months -> putting sentences togetherafter 2 months -> putting sentences together11 months-> able to identify written words, to add to ten 11 months-> able to identify written words, to add to ten and and to retell a story to retell a story18 months -> able to ask complicated questions;18 months -> able to ask complicated questions; vocabulary of about 1,500 – 2,000 wordsvocabulary of about 1,500 – 2,000 words

Reached a normal mentality by the age of eight and a half Reached a normal mentality by the age of eight and a half yearsyears

Covered in 2 years the usual stages of learning- that Covered in 2 years the usual stages of learning- that ordinarily requires six! ordinarily requires six!

GenieGenieCharacteristics:Weight- 59 pounds Height- 54 inches Incontinent Unable to chew Barely able to swallow Unable to focus her eyes beyond 12 feet Unable to cry Could not fully extend her arms or legs Could not tell the difference between hot and cold Spoke very little.  “Stopit”, “Nomore”, and other negative She only understood about 20 words

GenieGenie From the age of 20 months, she lived in nearly total isolation. From the age of 20 months, she lived in nearly total isolation.

For 11 years For 11 years Genie was harnessed naked all day long to a Genie was harnessed naked all day long to a toddler's potty seat At night, with her arms restrained, she slept toddler's potty seat At night, with her arms restrained, she slept in a sleeping bag inside a "crib-cage" made of wire and wood. in a sleeping bag inside a "crib-cage" made of wire and wood.

Whenever Genie made noise, her father would bark like a Whenever Genie made noise, her father would bark like a ferocious dog or beat her.ferocious dog or beat her.

Her 'toys' were cottage cheese containers, two plastic raincoats, Her 'toys' were cottage cheese containers, two plastic raincoats, & threadless spools of thread & threadless spools of thread,,

Found in November 1970 in California, at 13 years of age she Found in November 1970 in California, at 13 years of age she could not stand erect and was unable to speak except 2 words: could not stand erect and was unable to speak except 2 words: “Stopit“, “Nomore““Stopit“, “Nomore“

1971: her language resembled that of a normal 18-20 months 1971: her language resembled that of a normal 18-20 months old child (one year after her discovery)old child (one year after her discovery) two-word utterances two-word utterances, , EX. “Want milk.“, “Big teeth“EX. “Want milk.“, “Big teeth“

ButBut: NO vocabulary explosion after 18-20 months: NO vocabulary explosion after 18-20 months Could not formulate questions,Could not formulate questions,

EX “Where is may I have a penny?“ EX “Where is may I have a penny?“ “I where is graham cracker on the top shelf?“ “I where is graham cracker on the top shelf?“

Present condition: speech development is not perfect, but she Present condition: speech development is not perfect, but she can say most things she wants; lives in an adult foster home in can say most things she wants; lives in an adult foster home in CaliforniaCalifornia

Kamala and AmalaKamala and Amala The “wolf children“ Kamala (8y.) and

Amala (2y.) had been living with a family of wolves in a cave in a jungle in India

In 1920, they were discovered in Midnapore, by a missionary who took charge of them

Preferred to sit in the darkest corner of their room

Fingers and toes were deformed, they were not able to stand upright

snarled at other kids and cried like wolves Amala died in September 1921 Within 5 years Kamala had a vocabulary of

more than 40 words: “ha“ (yes), “hoo“ (cold); she was also able to name objects

1929: Kamala died

Children raised by animalsChildren raised by animals

Oxana MalayaOxana Malaya

At the age of 3, her alcoholic parents left her neglected At the age of 3, her alcoholic parents left her neglected daughter outside one night and she crawled into a hovel daughter outside one night and she crawled into a hovel where the family kept dogs where the family kept dogs

Between the ages of 3 and 8, she lived with the dogs in a Between the ages of 3 and 8, she lived with the dogs in a kennel of the back garden of her family homekennel of the back garden of her family home

In In 19911991, the “dog child“ was found in Ukraine, barking , the “dog child“ was found in Ukraine, barking and crawling on all foursand crawling on all fours

At an orphanage school, she was taught to walk upright, At an orphanage school, she was taught to walk upright, to eat with her hands and to acquire language; to eat with her hands and to acquire language;

2006: at the age of 23, she is able to speak, but there is no 2006: at the age of 23, she is able to speak, but there is no cadence or rhythm or inflection to her speech; she can cadence or rhythm or inflection to her speech; she can count but not add count but not add

Children raised by animalsChildren raised by animals

How do people learn to How do people learn to speak a language? speak a language?

One theory, called the Environmentalist Hypothesis, One theory, called the Environmentalist Hypothesis, holds that people learn language through their holds that people learn language through their interactions with others, especially from hearing their interactions with others, especially from hearing their parents speak. parents speak.

Another is that individuals are born with the rules for Another is that individuals are born with the rules for language ingrained in them (called language ingrained in them (called nativist theory of

language. . Noam ChomskyNoam Chomsky theorized humans theorized humans are born with a are born with a language acquisition device LAD

A third proposal, the Critical-Period Hypothesis, A third proposal, the Critical-Period Hypothesis, states that people must learn language within a states that people must learn language within a critical period during early development if they are critical period during early development if they are ever to comprehend and master the structure of ever to comprehend and master the structure of

language (language (Eric LennebergEric Lenneberg))

The Critical Period The Critical Period HypothesisHypothesis

(Lenneberg, 1967)(Lenneberg, 1967) Before age 2, language acquisition is not possible Before age 2, language acquisition is not possible

because the brain is not sufficiently maturebecause the brain is not sufficiently mature

After puberty, natural language acquisition is not After puberty, natural language acquisition is not obtainable because the brain is mature, mental obtainable because the brain is mature, mental functions is complete and brain plasticity is lostfunctions is complete and brain plasticity is lost

In order to acquire language, there are two In order to acquire language, there are two necessary requirements:necessary requirements:

1. a human brain1. a human brain

2. sufficient exposure to language during this 2. sufficient exposure to language during this critical critical period between the age of 2 years and puberty period between the age of 2 years and puberty

AGEAGE Language milestoneLanguage milestone

4 m4 mBabbling stage; appears innate, even Babbling stage; appears innate, even babies born deaf go through the babbling babies born deaf go through the babbling stagestage

1 1 yearyear

from babbling to words; one word stage from babbling to words; one word stage (holophrastic stage) Ex. “Milk”(holophrastic stage) Ex. “Milk”

18 m18 m Two word stage (or telegraphic stage) Ex. Two word stage (or telegraphic stage) Ex. “Want kitty”“Want kitty”

3-3-10y10y

Begin to learn grammar and syntax rules Begin to learn grammar and syntax rules Ex. “Sam hitted my head with a toy.”Ex. “Sam hitted my head with a toy.”

11-11-14y14y

If you are learning a second language at If you are learning a second language at this age you probably have “foreign this age you probably have “foreign accent”accent”

15y 15y ++

Is difficult to learn a second languageIs difficult to learn a second language

Normal Language Normal Language DevelopmentDevelopment

LanguageLanguageNature vs. NutureNature vs. Nuture

So the main question for Genie’s So the main question for Genie’s case:case: Was she mentally disabled from birth? Was she mentally disabled from birth?

(nature)(nature) Or was she deprived of language after Or was she deprived of language after

her ‘critical period’? (nurture)her ‘critical period’? (nurture)

Was Genie Mentally Was Genie Mentally Disabled From Birth?Disabled From Birth?

Susan Curtiss: Susan Curtiss: Genie, although Genie, although functionally retarded because she had functionally retarded because she had hardly lived and experienced the world hardly lived and experienced the world around her, was not mentally deficient around her, was not mentally deficient in any sense in which we typically think in any sense in which we typically think

of as mentally deficient. of as mentally deficient.

ConclusionConclusion

Some feral children acquire normal language Some feral children acquire normal language ability, but only if found before the onset of ability, but only if found before the onset of pubertypuberty(EX. Isabelle)(EX. Isabelle)

Other feral children never master the rules of Other feral children never master the rules of grammar and syntaxgrammar and syntax

Unless children are exposed to language in the Unless children are exposed to language in the critical period, they lose much of their innate critical period, they lose much of their innate ability to learn a language and especially its ability to learn a language and especially its grammatical principlesgrammatical principles

The Critical Period Hypothesis is not The Critical Period Hypothesis is not proven, but it is strongly supported!proven, but it is strongly supported!

Secret of a Wild ChildSecret of a Wild ChildViewing GuideViewing Guide

Focus QuestionsCan a loving environment reverse years Can a loving environment reverse years

of abuse and neglect?of abuse and neglect?Do people learn language from their Do people learn language from their

environment or are they born with an environment or are they born with an innate ability to speak (Nature vs. innate ability to speak (Nature vs. Nurture debate)Nurture debate)

If a person has not acquired language If a person has not acquired language by the age of 13, can they learn to by the age of 13, can they learn to speak?speak?

Copy the following questions. Copy the following questions. Skip 3-4 lines for your answer. Skip 3-4 lines for your answer. Turn in for a grade.Turn in for a grade.

1. Explain the concept of a “wild child”.1. Explain the concept of a “wild child”. 2. What kinds of scientific study/research 2. What kinds of scientific study/research

opportunities does discovering a wild child offer?opportunities does discovering a wild child offer? 3. Describe the abuse Genie suffered. Who were her 3. Describe the abuse Genie suffered. Who were her

abusers?abusers? 4. At the age of 13 why can’t she talk?4. At the age of 13 why can’t she talk? 5. Who was Victor? How does the story of Victor 5. Who was Victor? How does the story of Victor

relate to Genie?relate to Genie? 6. Why was Genie’s case so important to language 6. Why was Genie’s case so important to language

researchers?researchers? 7. Describe Genie’s treatment and progress?7. Describe Genie’s treatment and progress? 8. Who do you think should get custody of Genie? 8. Who do you think should get custody of Genie?

Who really cares about Genie?Who really cares about Genie?

9. What happened to Genie when the 9. What happened to Genie when the Rigler's grant money ran out? Rigler's grant money ran out?

10. Was Genie’s brain damaged from 10. Was Genie’s brain damaged from years of abuse or was she born that way?years of abuse or was she born that way?

11. How do you feel about the court’s 11. How do you feel about the court’s decision to return Genie to her mother’s decision to return Genie to her mother’s care? About her mother’s lawsuit?care? About her mother’s lawsuit?

12. In your opinion is this a sad or an 12. In your opinion is this a sad or an inspiring story? EXPLAIN.inspiring story? EXPLAIN.

13. Where is Genie today?13. Where is Genie today? 14. Why would an experiment like 14. Why would an experiment like

Genie’s never be repeated?Genie’s never be repeated?

Any Questions?Any Questions?

Who was the scientist in charge of studying Who was the scientist in charge of studying Genies's language development?Genies's language development?

Eric LennenburgEric Lennenburg Noam ChomskyNoam Chomsky Susan Curtiss Susan Curtiss David Rigler David Rigler

The idea that principles of language are innate The idea that principles of language are innate (i.e. genetically transmitted) was proposed by:(i.e. genetically transmitted) was proposed by:

Noam ChomskyNoam Chomsky Susan Curtiss Susan Curtiss Eric LennerburgEric Lennerburg B.F. SkinnerB.F. Skinner

Genie's language therapists switched to teaching her Genie's language therapists switched to teaching her sign language because:sign language because:

She refused to use her voiceShe refused to use her voice Her parents had used some sign language with herHer parents had used some sign language with her She had difficulty producing speech soundsShe had difficulty producing speech sounds She had started to use gestures on her ownShe had started to use gestures on her own

In the end, the scientist involved in evaluating Genie concluded In the end, the scientist involved in evaluating Genie concluded that she:that she:

Had learned some vocabulary, but had very abnormal Had learned some vocabulary, but had very abnormal languagelanguage

Would make more progress with sign language than with Would make more progress with sign language than with spoken language spoken language

Could not learn language due to the possible mental Could not learn language due to the possible mental retardationretardation

Would continue to learn language, but it would occur slowlyWould continue to learn language, but it would occur slowly

Genie, her nearly blind mother, and her elderly Genie, her nearly blind mother, and her elderly grandmother disturbed the social worker. The three grandmother disturbed the social worker. The three had come into the Social Welfare office in Temple City, had come into the Social Welfare office in Temple City, California, to learn about resources for the blind. The California, to learn about resources for the blind. The date was November 1970. The social worker noticed date was November 1970. The social worker noticed that the "small withered girl" had "a halting gait" and that the "small withered girl" had "a halting gait" and "hands held up as though resting on an invisible rail," "hands held up as though resting on an invisible rail," which gave her a curious, unnaturally stooped posture. which gave her a curious, unnaturally stooped posture. The girl was so tiny that the social worker estimated The girl was so tiny that the social worker estimated she might be six or seven years old. She suspected the she might be six or seven years old. She suspected the child might be autistic. But Genie was actually thirteen child might be autistic. But Genie was actually thirteen and had been in solitary confinement since she was two and had been in solitary confinement since she was two years old. Her 'jailer' was her father.years old. Her 'jailer' was her father.

In the next few weeks, Genie's story In the next few weeks, Genie's story came to light, and, shortly after it did, Genie's came to light, and, shortly after it did, Genie's father killed himself. The father had locked father killed himself. The father had locked Genie up to protect her from what he Genie up to protect her from what he considered the dangers of the outside world. considered the dangers of the outside world. During those 11 years, Genie was harnessed During those 11 years, Genie was harnessed naked all day long to a toddler's potty seat. At naked all day long to a toddler's potty seat. At night, with her arms restrained, she slept in a night, with her arms restrained, she slept in a sleeping bag inside a "crib-cage" made of sleeping bag inside a "crib-cage" made of wire and wood. Whenever Genie made noise, wire and wood. Whenever Genie made noise, her father would bark like a ferocious dog or her father would bark like a ferocious dog or beat her.beat her.

Genie ate baby food, cereals, and soft-Genie ate baby food, cereals, and soft-boiled eggs, all of which were fed to her. Her boiled eggs, all of which were fed to her. Her 'toys' were cottage cheese containers, two 'toys' were cottage cheese containers, two plastic raincoats, threadless spools of thread, plastic raincoats, threadless spools of thread, and copies of and copies of TV Guide TV Guide stripped of stripped of illustrations. Her bedroom walls were bare. illustrations. Her bedroom walls were bare. She had no books, no radio, no television. The She had no books, no radio, no television. The only words addressed to her were angry ones. only words addressed to her were angry ones. She could say "stopit," "nomore," "no," and a She could say "stopit," "nomore," "no," and a few other negative words. At age 13, she few other negative words. At age 13, she understood only 20 words.understood only 20 words.

Genie's father also kept his wife and son, Genie's father also kept his wife and son, who was a few years older than Genie, captive. who was a few years older than Genie, captive. He rarely permitted them to speak or to go He rarely permitted them to speak or to go outside. Sometimes, he sat all day with a loaded outside. Sometimes, he sat all day with a loaded shotgun in his lap.shotgun in his lap.

Through a cracked-open window in her Through a cracked-open window in her room, Genie may have heard airplanes overhead room, Genie may have heard airplanes overhead or faint piano music drifting from a neighbor's or faint piano music drifting from a neighbor's house. Two inches of sky and the side of a house. Two inches of sky and the side of a neighbor's house were all that she could see neighbor's house were all that she could see through the top of the covered glass.through the top of the covered glass.