University:
California State University, Northridge
Course:
PSY 313 | Developmental Psychology
Academic year:

2024
Views:

262

Pages:

1
Author:

Prince Sampson

Questions for Documentary: Wild Child: The Story of Feral Children • Feral means… Wild or undomesticated • One of the central questions in science is… Are we a product of our genes or are we a product of our experience? Nature vs. Nurture Theory • Why is it so difficult to study feral children? It is difficult to study feral children because it is very complex and varies case by case. • What were Itard’s two tests of what it means to be human? Itard’s two tests to be human are the ability to feel empathy and to use language. • According to the theory, young children could only learn certain things at certain times. • According to brain science, what happens to a brain that is abused or neglected? According to brain science, the cortex that has the neurosystems responsible for speech and language are not stimulated like from neglect and abuse will get smaller and smaller. The brain will physically change and become malformed. The worse the abuse or neglect the worse the brain will become. • Which do you believe is more influential in developing personality, nature or nurture? What evidence do you have for this claim? I believe nurture is the most influential aspect in developing personality. During the documentary is explained that in cases of severe abuse and neglect or feral children, the brain itself physically changes. On the brain scans it showed, the center of the brain or cortex appeared to be hollow with no activity present. This part of the brain plays a big role on a persons personality and well-being. So I believe that the brain scans prove that a child must be nurtured to be able to fully develop like they should physically and mentally. • What implications do these studies of feral children have for the study of sociology and socialization? The study of feral children plays a crucial role in the study of socialization because it has showed us that without the proper nurturing and socialization from infancy a human being cannot fully develop. Socialization and nurturing is a physical need for human beings.