Genie: Secrets of the Wild Child Background

There have been a number of cases of feral children raised in social isolation with little or no human contact. Few have captured public and scientific attention like that of a young girl called Genie. She spent almost her entire childhood locked in a bedroom, isolated and abused for over a decade. Genie’s case was one of the first to put the critical period theory to the test. Could a child reared in utter deprivation and isolation develop language? Could a nurturing environment make up for a horrifying past?

For more overview of Genie’s story, click here. 

Since the documentary — where is Genie? How have the scientists involved reflected on their time with Genie? The Guardian covered her story a few years ago in an investigative article.