Genie A Scientific Tragedy Book Russ Rymer Presentation

Genie: A Scientific Tragedy Book: Russ Rymer Presentation: Courtney Neis

Irene Genie’s Mother Atlus, OK Felt she had 2 sets of parents – Mamaw an Dadaw Close to her mother Drought Move to Southern California Father found job at filling station, little hope for kids Non-traditional solution to poverty

Clark Genie’s Father Rough life Unemployed WWII – worked in aircraft assembly line

Marriage and Kids Early years appeared to be happy Clark was jealous and overprotective “My life came to an end on my wedding day” – Irene Clark didn’t want kids Four children – only 2 survived Child 1 Irene beat during pregnancy Crying infuriated Clark Died at 2. 5 months Child 2 - RH blood poisoning Child 3 Healthy boy Development hindered – Neglect Saved by paternal grandmother Child 4 – Genie RH blood poisoning Development hindered

Clark’s Mother Clark was largely attached to his mother, despite not being there during childhood. Supported him until he got job as a machinist Irene thought she was making a pest of herself December 1958 – The Accident. Clark’s mother got hit by a car while crossing the street with her grandson to buy an ice cream cone. Afterwards, Clark started to change and was severely depressed A world without his mother, a world that did not care to adequately punish his mother’s murderer, was a world he could live without Clark quit job and moved his family into his mother’s house

Home Life Irene was largely dependent on Clark because of her blindness Son was allowed outside of house for very little Sleeping arrangements – living room Clark dreaded people taking advantage of his daughter Pediatrician pronounced her “a retarded little girl with kernicterus” Clark believed his daughter was profoundly retarded and needed protection from evil of the world

Genie’s Home Life Confined to a small bedroom in back of house, harnessed to an infant’s potty seat Left to sit on a chair – unable to move her fingers, hands, feet, or toes At night, placed in sleeping bag which was stationed to hold her arms stationary and placed in a crib with wire mesh sides and a wire mesh cover on top Little auditory stimulation – no TV or radio. Wasn’t allowed to make any noises

Genie’s Home Life cnt. Little to look at or touch – no carpet or pictures in room, windows covered “Entertainment” Two raincoats, “Partly Edited” copies of TV log, Cottage Cheese containe, Spool of thread Diet Baby foods, Cereal, Soft boiled egg Clark was convinced she’d die before 12 Promised Irene she could seek help for Genie if she lived past 12

Found Irene was searching for office of “Service for Blind” but accidentally stumbled into the general social services office 90% blind in left eye and 100% blind in right eye Social worker originally thought Genie was autistic Genie’s condition when found 50 lbs Incontinent – no control over urination/defecation Couldn’t chew solid food/could hardly swallow Couldn’t focus eyes beyond 12 feet Salivated constantly Had almost 2 complete sets of teeth Showed no perception of heat/cold Couldn’t do anything requiring full extension of legs (hop, skip, climb) Vocab – probably less than 20 words

The Aftermath Clark and Irene were arrested and charged with child abuse Admitted to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles Clark committed suicide on the court date He left 2 notes – nothing for his wife or daughter For the police: “My son is out front with friends. He hasn’t the slightest idea of what is going to happen” For his son: “Don’t take that shirt back. It’s for my funeral. You know where my blue shirt is. Underwear in hall closet. I love you. Good bye and be good – Dad” Irene got off on a not guilty plea

New People in Genie’s Life Susan Curtiss & Victoria Fromkin Susan was a 1 st year grad student in linguistics department studying language acquisition when her faculty advisor, Victoria Fromkin, invited her into the case David Rigler David was a professor of pediatrics and psychology at University of Southern California and the chief psychologist in the hospital’s psychiatric division

New People in Genie’s Life James Kent (top right) One of the hospital psychologists who visited Genie the first day she arrived “As far as I’m concerned Genie was the most profoundly damaged child I’ve ever seen” Jay Shurley (bottom left) One of the first outside consultants to visit Genie from Texas Brought 600 lbs of equipment for investigating brain activity Video https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=h. LCqe. YKPnpc : 30 Bunny Walk 5: 40 Talking 12: 30 19: 10

Critical Period & Language Acquisition Nature or Nurture Noam Chomsky – Language Acquisition Device (LAD) Eric Lenneberg – Critical Period

Genie’s Progress in the Hospital Mental and physical abilities improved quickly She seemed oblivious to the people fighting over her After 2 weeks she was released to the hospital’s rehabilitation center Starting to develop a sense of self Starting to obtain speech Showing remarkable progress on intelligence tests May 1971 – consultants got together to consider her future under the terms of the NIMH contract Therapy or Research? Opinions?

The Testing Begins June 4, 1971 – Genie meets Curtis and Fromkin New linguistic examinations One of the most tested children in history Genie spoke very little – whimpers or squeaks The first publicly released picture of Genie, taken just after California authorities took control of her care at the age of 13.

Genie’s Summer with Jean Butler Jean volunteered to take Genie on field trips Jean developed Rubella July 7 – “Isolation” Genie went to life with Jean Genie was happy and progressing well Dispute with the “Genie Team” Jean – overprotective, restricting visits Genie Team – ambitious and insensitive Jean applied to be Genie’s foster parent

Genie with David and Marilyn Rigler Genie’s new home – scientist on the case 3 children, a cat, golden retriever puppy Genie was regressing Grant money and funding David Rigler released from work at hospital

More Progress at the Rigler’s Curtiss visited daily Uncooperative Compressing sentences “Monday Curtis come” = “Munkuh” – The Great Abbreviator Verbally slow Marilyn Rigler – unofficially in charge of teaching Genie how to behave Taught Genie how to chew food Enrolled in nursery school and later public school for the mentally retarded Speech therapy and some sign language “Genie Happy”

Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association Anniversary of Genies arrival in foster home Symposium – chaired by David Rigler Howard Hansen – paper of Genies early life James Kent – 8 months in hospital Marilyn Rigler – the past year “Adventure: At Home with Genie” Fromkin, Curtis, and Krashen – Genie’s language skills Development indicated language acquisition can occur after 5 and the onset of puberty Dubunk Eric Lenneberg’s theory? Lenneberg had no interest in studying Genie

Summary of Progress Difference between singular and plural nouns Difference between positive and negative sentences Some prepositions Understood yes/no questions Somewhat use possessives

Summary of Progress Cnt. Normal children quickly learn how to form negative sentences – Genie was stuck in the beginning stage for almost 3 years Couldn’t ask a real question Ex: “Where is may I have a penny? ” Problem with pronouns “I” her favorite “You” and “Me” were interchangeable Skill leveled out almost immediately Failures made many believe Genie was retarded Curtis was not convinced – she was smart She could categorize – some thought key to learning language Advanced in mental age “Being with Genie wasn’t like being with a retarded person. It was like being with a disturbed person. She was the most disturbed person I’d ever met. But the lights were on. There was somebody home. ” - Curtiss

Video (7: 30) https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Vj. Zol. HCr. C 8 E#t=382

Trips to Temple City Most promising case of 20 th century to perhaps one of the most tested children in history NIMH found the lack of progress troubling One year extension Rigler applied for another grant Application was denied “Very little progress has been made” “The research goals projected probably will not be realized” On the “bright” side… Without funds, Riglers would have to terminate their foster relationship with Genie

New Homes For Genie Home to Irene found it difficult to live with her daughter Riglers had some money to help – summer camp November 7 – new foster home Irene’s visits were seen as disruptions Genie regressed – seemingly intentionally Quit speaking – fear of vomiting At a poolside BBQ they saw how bad Genie had regressed “I want live back in Marilyn house”

A new grant – more testing Genie was placed back in the hospital for two weeks and then entered a new foster home Temporary home over the Christmas holiday Another “permanent home” One home refused visitation Curtis advocated for Genie Letter to John Miner March 20, 1978 – Irene regained control of her daughter

Curtiss’ Dissertation Irene’s reaction Hurt by the term “Wild Child” “It made me sick at the stomach. I was sick you know, when I saw those things, you know, in print. It takes a lot to make me sick” – reaction to description of Genie’s home life Irene’s “corrections” I was not frequently beaten, 2 times in the last year. He did try to kill me 1 time Genie was able to move her arms, legs, bend forward and to the side Genie was able to move her arms with the sleeping bag on, it was not a straitjacket. It was an oversized infant’s crib with wire screen around the sides. There was a wire screen on top but I never used it. Genie did hear speech, our home is very small. Her father did not beat her Her father did not bark to her face Most Importantly: Genie was not forgotten

The Lawsuit October 1979 – lawsuit accusing – Hansen, Knapp, David Rigler, James Kent, Susan Curtiss, and the children’s hospital Accused them of multiple infractions of patient-therapist and patient-physician confidentiality Accused scientists of performing unethical human experimentation Faulted John Miner for not protecting Genie from harm while he was her guardian Asking for compensatory and punitive damages

Reactions to the Lawsuit Testing regimen of 60 -70 hours/week It was fun, Genie thought most of this as a game Susan Curtis - “My test periods were never more than 45 minutes on a given day, the rest was playing, going for walks, just being friends” Scientists were shocked David Rigler – The mystery became clear for him Jean Butler Jean stayed in the shadows Irene didn’t sound like herself

Lawsuit (continued) Case lasted 6 years Time dulled the complaint Case finally almost settled – Jean wanted Irene to decline the offer Complaint was “dismissed” or rather “upheld” Curtiss agreed to direct a program for Genie Children’s hospital agreed to give yearly physical and psychiatric evaluations Full access to and use of Genie’s records were granted Curtis relinquished the fund she had set aside for Genie No other financial penalties

Where is Genie now? Adult foster care home Southern California Little is known about current condition Private investigator - happy Jay Shurley’s visits Largely silent Depressed Chronically intitutionalized

Discussion Reactions/Thoughts? What kind of problems do you think arose having Rigler as a scientist on her case and one of her primary care givers? What could they have done, or what would you do differently, that would have benefited Genie in better ways? If this were a case today, how do you think it would be handled? How should the ethics of a case such as this be handled?