Secret of the Wild Child

Tags:  biology, discourse/language, nature vs. nurture, symbolic interactionism, socialization, ethics, 21 to 60 mins
Year:  1994
Length:  56:00
Access:  YouTube (part 1; part 2; part 3; part 4; part 5; part 6)

Summary:  Film describes the story of a young girl named 'Genie' who suffered extreme social isolation during the first decade of her life while she was strapped to a potty chair. Rescued by authorities, the film focuses on her subsequent treatment by psychologists and health experts and her resulting advancement in linguistic development. The film highlights the importance of social interaction in the acquisition and development of language - a key principle of symbolic interactionism. Other themes include the role of ethics in social research and the 'nature versus nurture' debate in the social sciences.  PBS also hosts this site with classroom activities and ideas for teachers using this film. 

Submitted By:  Christopher K. Andrews

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