Molly Osier
Genie analysis
3/35/10
While the case of Genie brought about many groundbreaking discoveries in psychology, the handling of Genie and her situation posed both moral and ethical dilemmas. With no guidelines to rule Genie’s care, education, and research, those involved in the case were forced to navigate the “gray area” posed by Genie as well as possible.
If Genie was to be discovered in modern times, one can certainly assume that government financial support would drastically improve the quality of Genie’s care and the studies surrounding her. One of the major shortcomings of her treatment was the lack of funding and proper institutions to handle such cases. Genie’s foster care can be described as unstable at best. Genie lacked necessary relationships and human dynamics vital for social development. The researchers involved with Genie played far too many roles for one person, resulting in confusion and inconsistency for Genie. Modern government and major psychology institutions would not have allowed Genie’s care to be as deficient.
Although criticized, the Genie’s researchers kept in mind that their primary goal throughout the case was Genie’s well-being. Genie’s health, safety, and sanity were not sacrificed for scientific purposes at all, requiring those involved to make great sacrifices for Genie. Taking Genie into his own home for four years proves the main researcher’s devotion to Genie and her happiness and development.
Genie gives significant evidence for the Critical Period Hypothesis, however this evidence means nothing without confirmation that Genie was not born or inflicted with any mental disabilities form either genetics or abuse. If it can be proved that Genie has normal mental aptitude, then perhaps the Critical Period Hypothesis is indeed valid since Genie was unable to speak proper language although she could convey her thoughts and emotions with words and sign language.
Although Genie’s nurturing environment after her discovery undoubtedly augmented her development, it did not erase her past and its devastating effects, suggesting that negative experiences leave far greater impressions than positive experiences. All things considered, the people involved in Genie’s case did a very good job ensuring her welfare and that science was able to benefit form her rare situation.
