Watch the story of the movie Secret of the Wild Child, currently available in its entirety at the following web address:http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3i5x05.
Questions to answer:
Briefly describe Genie’s early experiences and her progress in learning a language after she was found.
What does this case study suggest about the role of language in the primary socialization process?
What is the critical period? Does research with Genie support the notion of what linguists refer to as a “critical period” for language acquisition?
Why is this case study referred to as a “forbidden experiment”?
Why can’t we reach definitive conclusions about cause and effect using a case study? Regarding Genie’s situation, what potentially confounding variable makes it difficult to conclude with certainty that it was extreme social isolation that caused her cognitive deficits?
Describe the ethical issues surrounding Genie’s case, discussed in the film Secret of the Wild Child. Did the individuals involved in this research project behave in an unethical manner?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Tragic Tale of Genie: Unraveling the Mysteries of Language Acquisition
Language acquisition is a fundamental aspect of human development, shaping social interactions, cognitive abilities, and emotional expression. The case study of Genie, the “Wild Child,” offers a poignant insight into the critical role of language in the primary socialization process and the profound impact of extreme isolation on cognitive development.
Genie’s Early Experiences and Language Progress
Genie’s early life was shrouded in neglect and abuse, confined to a dark, isolated room by her parents for over a decade. Discovered at the age of 13, she exhibited severe developmental delays and lacked basic language skills. Through intensive intervention and specialized care, Genie made remarkable progress in learning language, albeit with significant challenges. Her journey from silence to rudimentary communication underscored the adaptive nature of the human brain and its capacity for linguistic development even after prolonged deprivation.
The Role of Language in Socialization
Genie’s case study illuminates the pivotal role of language in the primary socialization process. Language serves as a vehicle for communication, social interaction, and cognitive growth, shaping individuals’ perceptions of the world and their place within it. The absence of language during critical developmental periods, as seen in Genie’s isolation, can impede social integration, emotional expression, and cognitive functioning, highlighting the indispensable role of language in human development.
The Critical Period and Language Acquisition
Linguists posit the existence of a critical period for language acquisition, suggesting that optimal language learning occurs during early childhood when the brain exhibits heightened plasticity. Genie’s case study provides compelling evidence for this notion, as her delayed linguistic development and struggles with grammatical structures indicate the challenges of acquiring language beyond the critical period. While Genie’s progress demonstrates the brain’s capacity for adaptation, her linguistic deficits underscore the importance of early language exposure for optimal development.
The “Forbidden Experiment” and Ethical Considerations
Genie’s case study is often referred to as a “forbidden experiment” due to the ethical concerns surrounding her treatment and research protocol. The extreme social isolation imposed on Genie by her caregivers raises ethical dilemmas regarding informed consent, psychological harm, and privacy rights. The individuals involved in Genie’s case, including researchers and caregivers, faced criticism for potential ethical violations, such as inadequate protection of her well-being and exploitation for scientific purposes.
In conclusion, Genie’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities of language acquisition, socialization, and ethical research practices. While her case offers valuable insights into the impact of extreme isolation on cognitive development and language acquisition, it also raises profound ethical questions about the boundaries of scientific inquiry and the responsibility to prioritize individual well-being. Genie’s resilience and progress stand as a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for adaptation and growth, even in the face of unimaginable challenges.
