Genie Wiley: The Wild Child

Genie Wiley: The Wild Child Susan “Genie” Wiley was discovered on November 4, 1970 when her mother, who was nearly blind, sought public assistance in Temple City, California after escaping from her abusive husband. When she was discovered she could not talk and had a “bunny-like” walk. She was starved, tortured, and forgotten. She was given the name Genie to protect her privacy (McMahan 2014). Genie Wiley was born on March 11, 1952, the third child born to Clark and Dorothy Wiley. The first child died after Clark wrapped the infant in a blanket and left her in a dresser drawer in their garage. The second child died two days after his birth because he choked on mucus. Their third child, John Gray Wiley, went to live with Clark’s mother at four years old after his own mother was institutionalized. However, he returned years later after his grandma was Clark Wiley was teased ruthlessly as a child and was raised in a bordello (“Genie Wiley”). The early life of Genie was horrific. When Genie was only twenty months old Clark Wiley was told that his daughter could possibly be mentally retarded. He took this news seriously and locked his daughter in a dark room in their house. The room was located at the back of the house and the windows were covered with aluminum foil.

Although each sociological theory differs, the central issue is clear. John B. Watson would claim the biggest issues are that she had no example to learn from and that she was not nurtured (“Behaviorist Approach”). Many other sociologists would agree a dominant issue was lack of nurture. Harry and Margaret Harlow would argue the main issue was that Genie was in isolation for so long, which relates to lack of nurture as well (“Harry Harlow and the Nature of Love”). Sigmund Freud would agree with the other sociologists because he believed Genie needed bonding (or nurture) since birth (“Sigmund