Genie Case

By sabrinavehec

  • David Rigler

    In December, he obtained a small grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to do preliminary studies on Genie, and began organizing a research team to submit a larger request.

  • Genie was discovered

    A social worker discovered the 13 year old girl after her mother sought out services.

  • Her case caught the attention of linguists

    UCLA professor Victoria Fromkin headed a team of linguists who began a detailed case study on Genie's progress with learning language.

  • Genie showed understanding of her own name

    She also showed understanding of few other's names and knew about 15-20 words.

  • At the beginning of January 1971, scientists conducted a series of neurolinguistic tests on Genie.

    The purpose was to determine and monitor the course and extent of her mental development.

  • January- Genie was at the developmental level of a 1 to 3 year old

    This was determined when doctors administered a Gesell Developmental Evaluation

  • April-May

    Genie's test scores, mental age, and language capabilities significantly increased.

  • June

    Jean Butler obtained permission to take Genie on day trips to her home and moved in with her temporarily. During this time, Genie started to show the first signs of puberty and language improved.

  • August

    Rigler and his wife became Genie's caregivers. The research team continued observations and evaluations.

  • October

    Genie became somewhat more sociable and responsive.

  • Recalling past events

    Scientists realize that Genie could recall events from her past.

  • Scores

    At this time, Genie scored between the level of an 8 year old and an adult on all right-hemisphere tasks.

  • February

    Curtiss recorded the first time Genie shared something with her.

  • NIMH withdrew funding

    This organization stopped funding Genie research due to lack of scientific findings.

  • Sign Language

    The Riglers arranged for Genie to learn a form of sign language because her nonverbal communication continued to excel.

  • Genie returned to living with her birth mother

    However, by the end of 1975, Genie's mother was overwhelmed and Genie was transferred to a foster home.

  • Authorities placed Genie in foster homes

    Here, she was subjected to physical and emotional abuse, which made her afraid to talk.

  • June

    Rigler wrote that Genie continued to make strides in every field which the scientists were testing, but most social interactions with her remained abnormal.

  • Genie: A Psycholinguistic Study of a Modern-Day "Wild Child"

    Curtiss finished and presented her dissertation.

  • Research was stopped

    Genie's mother decided to stop any further scientific testing and observations on Genie.