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Essay / Socialization of adolescents in the film "Genius: The Secret of the Wild Child"
It is difficult for someone to imagine themselves at thirteen years old, without having a clear idea of their being, and barely being able to walk or talk. Unfortunately, this was the reality of the young girl Genie, in the movie “Genie: Secret of the Wild Child”. Instead of growing up in a loving home, Genie was locked, sometimes chained, in a dark room, alone and under the control of her abusive parents. After more than a decade of isolation, she was barely able to walk or talk by the age of thirteen. Genie's story is a great example of how a person's behavior is linked to their childhood and can be explained by sociological theories and not human nature. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay. This analysis will focus on the importance of primary socialization, symbolic interactionism, and culture, highlighting how necessary these factors were in Genie's early development. sense of self.” Primary socialization begins early in a child's life and is essential because it is during this time that children develop basic values and norms, as well as a sense of self. Through parental and family influences, we acquire a collective body of knowledge that prepares us for future social interactions. As shown in the film, Genie had been isolated from all social interaction except for minimal encounters with her abusive parents. This deeply affected Genie's psyche and her ability to learn, when she should have developed these skills years before. The researchers had to compare Genie's mind to that of an infant, ignorant of himself and not yet knowing anything about the outside world. Symbolic interactionism is the development of a person's self-concept and identity, through daily interaction with others. To acquire basic socialization skills, symbolic interactionism is necessary. This method gives meaning to one's social environment. Genie lacked social skills, as she was never placed in a social environment or given the opportunity to develop her own identity. Solitary confinement was arguably the worst form of punishment she received, as it deprived her of the basic human interactions she needed to survive. After being rescued, Genie's transition to a public environment was very difficult. It took several months of hard work on the part of professionals to see any progress in hearing and mannerisms. Over time, Genie could recognize certain symbols and was able to speak several words, thanks to the constant interaction she should have received as a young child. Most children grow up interacting with society, but Genie lacked that for thirteen years. Further progress including the foundations of symbolic interactionism was necessary to enable it to develop its own identity. Society's expectations of a girl in early adolescence are usually specific, many would expect her to be in seventh grade, having acquired the basics of reading, writing. and communication skills. These expectations are a result of culture, Genie fell far short of all these expectations, which is why researchers were so attracted to her. Even though culture is constantly evolving, it remains crucial to belong to certain social groups in order to develop self-esteem. Most people begin to belong to one or more cultures.