COL096

2012

Other

Genie, a pseudonym given to a severely neglected and abused child, was discovered in 1970 in Los Angeles, California. She had spent the majority of her thirteen years locked in a room, almost entirely isolated and deprived of normal human interaction, stimulation, and language input.

Her father deliberately stunted her development through physical restraint, minimal contact, and limited sustenance. He forbade his family from speaking to her, further isolating her from linguistic development. Her discovery presented a unique, if ethically fraught, opportunity to study the critical period hypothesis of language acquisition.

Researchers attempted to teach Genie language skills, and while she demonstrated some ability to learn vocabulary, she never fully mastered grammar or syntax. Her case raised significant ethical concerns regarding the impact of research on a vulnerable individual, and the long-term effects of her early deprivation continued to plague her throughout her life. Details regarding her current whereabouts are largely confidential.