Kelcie Boring

PSYCH 201
Case Study #1
The Case of Genie

Case summary:
In 1970, a Los Angeles social worker encountered Genie, a 13-year-old girl being raised in
neglectful and abusive conditions. Genie had lived most of her young lids tied to a potty chair or
a crib in a small, dark room with no social interactions or access to the outside world. As a result
of these horrific conditions, Genie was unable to stand, eat solid food or speak.

What was the outcome for Genie?

Once Genie was removed from this abusive environment and taken into protective custody by
police, her speech abilities improved drastically and much faster than predicted by critical period
hypothesis which posits that there is a biologically determined period in childhood during which
a person is more receptive to learning a language and that after this period, language
acquisition becomes more difficult. Genie soon managed to gain a notable vocabulary, but
never developed a mastery of grammar.

What do you think made the difference in Genie's language improvements?

There are several factors that likely contributed to Genie’s linguistic development. First, Genie
was removed from the torturous conditions —devoid of all social interaction, sound and sunlight
— she was previously confined. Then she was provided with a language-rich environment that
was conducive to learning and social interaction. This gave Genie a language model, and ample
opportunities to improve her receptive language skills via listening, discriminate between
different speech sounds, observe facial expressions, practice synchrony with caregivers,
express what she was thinking or how she was feeling, and build conversation skills.

What else do you think can be done to improve Genie's expressive and receptive
language skills?
There are a few things that can be done to improve Genie's expressive and receptive language
skills. First, she would benefit greatly from enrolling in school. There, she would have access to
qualified teachers who can monitor her language development and provide intervention if any
delays persist. Additionally, she would have the opportunity to read, write, engage in critical
thinking activities, and play with other children on a regular basis.
To improve Genie’s receptive language skills, teachers should use clear and simple language,
repeating themselves as needed, and providing her with visual cues to help her understand the
meaning of what is being said. To foster Genie’s expressive language skills, it is important to
encourage her to talk about her experiences, ask questions, and participate in class
discussions.

Language is a social skill, and being surrounded by other children will allow Genie to practice
using language in a low-risk environment. Play is also an important part of learning, and
imaginative group play can provide Genie with opportunities to use her imagination and further
improve her expressive and receptive language skills.