Genie: the feral child

1. Genie: the feral child Alexxis Wilson

2. The Beginning Name: Susan Wiley Born: April 18th, 1957 (almost 61 years old) City: Arcadia, California Parents: Irene Wiley and Clark Wiley Siblings: Robert Clark Wiley, Dorothy Irene Wiley and John Gray Wiley

3. Family Background Clark Wiley: flight mechanic in WWII → aviation after • Married Irene forcing her to stay at home and beat her routinely • Disliked children Irene Wiley: grew up farming in Oklahoma, left because of the Dust Bowl • Involved in a car accident causing sight problems • Became dependent on Clark

4. Family Background Dorothy: 1st child→ born 5 years after marriage • Died of pneumonia at 10 weeks Robert: 2nd child→ born 1 year later • Diagnosed with Rh blood poisoning- died at 2 days old John: 3rd child→ 3 years later • Healthy; slow in development→ neglected

5. Early Life Genie→ born 5 years after John • Signs of Rh poisoning, had blood transfusion • Noticed congenital hip dislocation→ splint 4.5 months-11 months • Splint caused her to start walking later • Father thought mentally impaired→ cut off interaction with her • Came down with pneumonia→ from 50% to 11% in weight percentile • Malnutrition • Pediatrician stated Genie was “mentally retarded” • Kernicterus

6. Clark’s Breakdown Genie→ 20 months old Clarks mother died from a hit and run accident • Blames son • Decided family needed protection from the world • Genie needed “additional protection” being “retarded” → entirely hid her • Quit his job and moved family into his late mother's house • Shrine mother’s bedroom and car

7. Childhood Clark secluded Genie • Tied her to a toilet chair for 13 hours a day → function as straight jacket • Could only move extremities and wore only a diaper • At night, tied into a sleeping bag and put into crib • Clark beat her when she made noise • Also growled/barked at her, grew nails to scratch her • Masturbate in socially inappropriate context • Possible sexual assault → father or brother

8. Childhood Cont. • Meal time • No solid food • Father or brother spoon fed her • Ate too slow, rubbed face in food • Only time Irene could be with Genie • Fed 3 times a day but often refused to feed her • Not allowed to speak around Genie • No tv or radio

9. Childhood Cont. Forced John to abuse Genie • Tried to run away Irene was threatened to be killed if she contacted anyone Clark promised if Genie had survived 12 years of age, Irene could seek help • Clark was convinced she would be dead

10. The Accident October 1970 • Genie was 13.5 years old • Irene left Clark • Took Genie to parents house November 4th • Decided to apply for disability • Accidently walked into Social Services office

11. The Rescue Social worker knew something was wrong • Guessed Genie to be 6 or 7 → reality 13.5 years old • Assumed autism • Immediately called police • Arrested Genie’s parents • Court order to take her to Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles

12. Question One Upon finding out Genie’s age, social services called the police and had Genie dropped off at a Children’s hospital. Ethically, how could the finding of Genie have been handled differently?

13. Los Angeles Children’s Hospital David Rigler: chief psychologist and therapist Howard Hansen: head of psychiatry and early expert on child abuse Rigler and Hansen took direct control of Genie’s care • James Kent, expert in child abuse, examined Genie first • Lead to investigation on parents

14. The Media November 17th, 1970 • News reached major media outlets Clark refused to speak to public or media • Nov 20th → Clark committed suicide by gunshot • Left note for son, “Be a good boy, I love you” • Left note for police, “The world will never understand” Charges were dropped on Irene after Clark suicide • Told court she was unable to protect her children

15. Examining Genie James Kent examined her • Most severe child abuse case he would encounter • Pale and malnourished • 4’6’’ and weighed 59 pounds • 2 full sets of teeth • Distended (swelling) abdomen • Thick callus and bruising on buttox • Coxa valga in her hips • Undersized rib cage • Eyes could not focus further than 10 feet

16. Characteristics • Expressionless • “Bunny walk” • Hesitant and unsteady • Extremely incompetent → mentality of 13 month old • Could not • Stand up straight • Straighten her limbs • Chew or swallow whole food https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvSMgi23F3o

17. Characteristics Cont. • Interested in objects more than people • Afraid of cats and dogs • Curious about unfamiliar sounds • Antisocial • No sense of personal property • No physical touching

18. Communication and Personality • Non-verbal signals- the way she looked at someone • Genie would push objects to make noise • Angry → attack herself, never anyone else • Would not stop unless diverted attention elsewhere • Understood her name, some other names and 15-20 words • “Stop it” and “no more”

19. The Hospital Stay • Examined by Jay Shurley→ Professor at University of Oklahoma • Found not autistic • “Mentally retarded” from birth • High levels of emotional disturbance • Susan Curtiss • Genie was born average intelligence • Abuse and isolation left her functionally disabled • James Kent • Small responses from puppets • Genie became fond of puppets • Became most consistent person to Genie

20. The Hospital Stay Cont. • Growing and putting on weight • Collected objects • Hoarded objects • Colorful and plastic • Beach pails brought her out of tantrums • Became more responsive • Nonverbal and verbal cues • Paid attention when people talked • Sociable with familiar people • Started showing emotions

21. Potential Case Study December 1970 • Rigler obtained a grant for $21,500 from the National Institution of Mental Health to start studies • January 1971→ Genie was developmentally at age 1-3 years old • February 1971→ 2-3 years old and some aspects 12-13 years old • Started to mimic speech sounds • April 1971→ Genie attacked another girl; first time she took out anger on another person • May 1971→ Mental age of 4 year and 9 months old • Earthquake hit Los Angeles and Genie sought comfort in cooks she befriended

22. Brain Testing January 1971 • Neuro Linguistic testing proved right-handedness • Hearing in both ears, language and non-language 100% • Prefered non-language in left ear ruling out reverse in dominance for language • No linguistic input during childhood • Language function lateralized to the right hemisphere • EEG picked up more activity ove right hemisphere • Later found that high involvement from right anterior cerebral cortex → right hemisphere acquired language • By May 1971 mental age was between 5 and 8 years old

23. Foster Homes • Stayed with Jean Butler • Later told people Genie would make her famous • During the stay, overcame fear of dogs, more talkative and took anger out on objects • Started refusing visits with the “Genie Team” • Decided Butler was not a good guardian • Moved in with Rigler • Intended to stay 3 months, stayed 4 years • Met with her mother weekly • Rigler became primary therapist and his wife would become her teacher • John Miner (attorney) was appointed Genie’s legal guardian

24. Observations: Behavior • Redirected anger to verbal expressions • Started paying attention to people talking to her • Also responded • Started nursery school • Public school for mentally retarded • Doing simple chores • Ironing, sewing and meal preparation • Mood significantly improved and seemed content with life

25. Observation: Language • By 1975 Genie could name most objects • Struggled with grammar • Spoke in short and choppy phrases • Deleted sounds in words whenever she could • Called her the great abbreviator • Not able to fully learn a language • Recalled past events • “Father hit big stick” “father is angry” • Did not understand death, asked where father was

26. Non-Verbal Communication • Invented her own gestures • Acted out events she could not express in talking • Communicate using pictures • Draw them or find them in magazines • Researchers became aware of Genie’s fear of dogs • Researchers pushed Genie to learn sign language

27. Loss of Funding • Initial grant + one year extension • Asked for 3 year extension→ Denied • Fundings cut completely • Research team did not address their concerns • Research team decided Genie would move back in with her mother • Irene had corrective eye surgery • Moved back into the house she was abused in, Genie was 18

28. Continuing Observations • Despite funding being cut, Rigler continued to assess Genie • Curtiss continued to regularly test and observe Genie • Irene became distressed with Genie’s behaviors: lack of self-control • Irene contacted California Department of Health 1975 • New placement • Lead to Genie being severely beaten for puking • Removed from this home in 1977 • Placed in another foster home but quickly ended months later • Genie wondered why she kept moving, thought it was her fault • Caused more trauma

29. Lawsuit • Curtiss finished dissertation → Genie: A Psycholinguistic Study of a Modern-Day “Wild Child” • 1978 Irene was offended by the title and contents • Sued Children’s Hospital, therapists involved, supervisors • Sued researchers Curtiss, Rigler, Kent and Hansen • Stated violation of patient confidentiality, invading Genie’s privacy and overworking her • Genie’s mother stated Jean Butler was behind the lawsuit • According to Russ Rymer, lawsuit was settled in 1984 • “The case never came to trial. It was dismissed by the Supreme Court of California with prejudice, meaning it can never again be re-filed.”

30. After Turning 18 • Miner failed to update guardianship • Irene took over without consulting anyone • Butler continued to criticize and spread rumors about Genie’s condition until death • Genie moved between 4 foster homes and institutions - negative impact • Left her uncommunicative and depressed • Saw Irene once a month • Moved to a supportive foster home/adult home • Allowed visitors • Genie seemed happy and more verbal

31. Currently • Genie lives in an undisclosed location • Ward of the state of California • Communicates fairly well with sign language • Only spoke a few words • Irene died of natural causes in 1982 • Had gone blind again • John only visited once prior to dying in 2011 • Gave interview stating he never read anything about Genie and how she was

32. Discussion • Jay Shurley thought Genie was “mentally retarded” from birth but Susan Curtiss thought she was functionally disabled because of abuse and isolation. • What do you think, and why? • What do you think would have been the hardest to teach Genie? • Human interaction OR Language→ Grammar • Why? • Ethically, what could have been done differently with Genie’s case?