1.1 Process of Learning and Socialisation- Case Studies

Question 1

Saturday Mthyiane

Feral Children

Answer 1

A 5 year old boy, Saturday Mthyiane was found in South Africa. he exhibited animalistic traits- socialised into him by monkeys of the Kwa-Zulu Natal. he was unable to contain his aggression and control his impulses throughout his time in his school and orphanage.

according to Mcleod, the food he preferred and the actions he would do, such as climbing and breaking things were due to the nurturing behaviours and experiences that he was exposed to.

Question 2

Genie

feral child

Answer 2

Genie was found on accident in the welfare county office of California, Pines noted she was isolated in a small room and hadn’t been spoken to since infancy, bereft of toys, companionship and love.

She could barely chew or swallow, and could not fully focus her eyes or extend her limbs. She shuffled with a sort of bunny hop and urinated and defecated when stressed. She weighed just 59lb (26kg). And she was, it turned out, 13 years old.

Progress initially was promising. Genie learned to play, chew, dress herself and enjoy music. She expanded her vocabulary and sketched pictures to communicate what words could not. She performed well on intelligence tests.

although she learnt words- she could never construct sentences, she did manage to connect with people while she had been in touch with psychologists, linguists and scientists- connecting particularly with Curtiss a linguist.

Question 3

Oxana Malaya

Feral Child

Answer 3

According to doctors and medical records, she was a normal child at birth, but was later neglected by her alcoholic father at age three, and she lived surrounded by dogs. When Malaya was found by authorities, she was seven and a half years old, but she could not talk, lacked many basic skills, and physically behaved like a dog. She was running around on all fours, barking, slept on the floor, and she ate and took care of her hygiene like a dog.

Malaya was eventually transferred to the foster home for mentally-disabled children. She underwent years of specialized therapy and education to address her behavioural, social and educational issues. Upon adulthood, Malaya was taught to subdue her dog-like behaviour; she learned to speak fluently and intelligibly and works at a farm milking cows, but remains somewhat intellectually impaired.

her doctors stated that it is unlikely that she will ever be completely rehabilitated into “normal” society.

Question 4

Maternal mind-mindedness and attachment security as predictors of theory of mind understanding

Meins et al- social psychology

Answer 4

This study investigated relations between social interaction during infancy and children’s subsequent theory of mind

Meins et al noted that although there exists a genetical pre-disposition for babies to become attached to their primary care giver, this can be affected by environmental factors, the most important aspect is the ability of the care-givers to recognise and understand the needs of the child.

Question 5

Margaret Mead

norms varying across societies

Answer 5

carried out research in papua new guinea,sought to discover to what extent temperamental differences between the sexes were culturally determined rather than innate:

• Arapesh Tribe: both sexes were gentle and cooperative (feminine)
• Mundugumor Tribe: both sexes were violent and agressive (masculine)
• tchambuli tribe: complete gender reversal compared to the western world- women were dominant and aggressive with little involvement in raising children whereas men were timid and emotionally dependant - spent much time decorating themselves.

Question 6

Bouchard et al Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart

nature>nurture

Answer 6

The researchers physiologically and psychologically assessed monozygotic twins or triplets who were reared apart, comparing the similarity of those twins to twins who were reared together. The research team found that identical twins who are reared apart had the same chance of being similar as twins who were raised together. Bouchard and his colleagues concluded that genetic factors have a large influence on behavioral habits demonstrating the influence of the genetics on development.

More specifically in the case of oscar and jack:
* were separated at birth
* Oskar was raised as a Catholic in Germany by his grandmother
* jack was raised as a Jew in the Caribbean by his father
* Bouchard documented the similarities in their behaviour, likes and dislikes

despite their different upbringings the twins behaviour, favourite food, mannerisms and clothing choices were strikingly similar