There have been cases we heard about children living in complete isolation from social life. Genie has perhaps the most chilling story of all these cases. If you’re ready to find out what happened to this poor girl who was abused by her family for 13 years, let’s get started.
almost as a child all in a dark room The story of Genie, who was abused in a closed manner, has also been the subject of research in many disciplines such as psychology and linguistics.
by his family mentally retarded Since the parents of Genie, who was imprisoned in the room when she was a baby, did not communicate with her in any way during this process, the little girl could not even learn a language.
13 years spent in a cradle inside dark walls…
Genie was born in California in 1957 and was locked in a room by his father before he was 2 years old, claiming he was mentally handicapped. Room there was neither light nor anything other than the cradle and the potty.
Poor girl, tied to this chair tied for hours was being held. The same was true for his crib, he had to be tied up even when he went to bed. Although Genie wanted to make a noise at first, he found his father with a gun or a stick in front of him. So she’s used to not making any noise and not speaking.
Genie has been exposed to a total of 15-20 words over the years.
This girl, who has no communication with her family and the outside world, has only been for 13 years. 15-20 words has learned. Imagine how such an abnormal situation would affect the human brain…
It’s not just language skills. Straitjacket Since the girl who was dressed was constantly tied up with her arms and legs tied and was fed only milk porridge, her muscles did not develop either. He even lacked motor movements.
Where was the mother while all this was going on?
The mother, who had almost no eyesight, was also exposed to the violence of the cruel father. There were such strict rules at home that Genie’s mother could not keep her husband’s word. She finally got Genie from her husband when she was 13. to release got a promise.
When Genie turned 13, of course, her father didn’t let her go. When we came to November 4, 1970, when her mother went to apply to the state for her own visual disability, she took Genie with her and the girl was the first to arrive. seen by other people.
Thanks to the questions asked by the civil servant to the mother, the truth came to light.
When the civil servant who took care of the mother started asking questions about Genie, it was understood that something was wrong with the girl. The officer first 6-7 years old child with autism He thought he was 13 years old, but was shocked when he learned that he was 13 years old. Police officers were called immediately for this girl, who could not say a single word and sounded like a baby.
The girl, who was immediately sent to the children’s hospital, did not speak, so they could not obtain information about the incident. Of course, the arrested parents didn’t give enough testimony either. Brutal father, morning of court day “The world will never understand.” He committed suicide leaving a note that said. The mother, on the other hand, was not punished because of her physical and psychological violence, as well as her visual disability.
So what happened to Genie Wiley?
After Genie was rescued, she never fully learned to speak. Thus, the discussion of “nativism (where language is coded in our brain from birth and develops over time)” and “critical period (language acquired in the critical period age)” in linguistics paving the way became an example.
Genie, now 66, has only able to describe trauma even a few words are enough to understand some of what they went through:
“spit, dad is angry, big wood, dad hit arm, hit face, Genie cry, hit with big wood, dad is dead…”
Resources: Verywell Mind, The Guardian, All That’s Interesting