Principles Of Sociology Essay Samples

1. This statement is from a researcher involved in studying cases of feral children: In the sad and mysterious case of __Genie_ we have an instance of developmental deficiency produced, not by a loss of senses, but by deprivation of the power of exercising them.
Place the name of one of the feral cases covered in class in the blank space above then, in your own words tell me what you think this statement means as it relates to the case you chose as well as to all the cases of feral children. Support your point of view with explanation, and data.
Feral children are humans that have lived away from human contact in as early as from immediately they are born. These children have little experience of human care that entails social care, love and especially, human language. Feral children live wildly in isolation. Sometimes, they interact more with animals than human beings.
One of the feral cases is that of Genie. This is a girl who was severely abused by her family especially her father. Genie’s father consistently punished her through beating to an extent that she could never have a chance to exercise things as a normal human being. The situation was even worse due to the fact that Genie was kept in a close room right from when she was an infant up to the age of 13 years. By that time, Genie had developed a severe abnormality. Her behavior and physical functioning of her body was completely like that of a less human being. She was speechless, could not construct a two word sentence and demonstrated no sense of personality.
The statement above suggests that developmental deficiency in what children suffer from when exposed to a human less environment. When a child grows with no human contact, their development is likely going to be characterized with lack of basic aspect of human life. This is to say that, a child is never born with abnormality in sensual organs. Like the case of Genie, records show that, she was born perfectly. She had no issues with senses or other body dysfunction. However, it is necessary for the sensory organs to be exposed in an environment with the right condition for a child to grow normally. This entails much of human interaction with care, love and language so as they easily adapt into a normal life. If left isolated, probably in an environment of less human activity, a child is likely to develop some dysfunction. This is the case experience from many feral children. Statistics show that, about 90% of the feral people have shown a great deal of abnormality in many aspects. The environment in which people live in carries a vital role to the character and the extent into which they perceive the world. Their behaviors are shaped by what they see, hear, touch, smell and feel. These are the most essential elements towards the development of any creature, especially human beings. Failure to internalize these and excise the functioning of these organs, a person becomes senseless.
2. Imagine yourself to be the researcher in charge of the case of “Genie”. You must decide the course of rehabilitation for “Genie”. How would you handle each of these situations? Also explain your reasons for the answers you choose.
a. Would you take the “fast” approach or the “slow” approach to this case? Why?
b. How would you handle the role of Irene in the care of Genie? Why?
c. What would be your approach be to the demonstrations of sexuality by Genie? Explain.
d. How would you have handled her placement when she was 18 years old? Explain.
e. What do you believe were the 3 biggest mistakes made in the handling of this case?
e. What else would you have done to assist in Genie’s recovery? Explain.
Genie was exposed to a severe abuse and develops social and physical abnormalities as she grew. The lonely conditions in the room never allowed her interact with anybody. It was then difficult for her to learn language, and normal behaviors as expected from as human being grow. Therefore, as a researcher, I would take the Genie’s case to rehabilitation on the slow approach. This is because, having passed the age where children learn things in a simple way, Genie would not benefit much from the fast approach. It is difficult for a person in their adult age to grasp things in their environment in a simple way like when they were in the childhood. Therefore it requires time more time for them learn and effectively interact with the environment. I would handle Irene’s with more special care and at the same time being more observant to identify any possible development. This is because, having experience untold harm, Genie’s rehabilitation and care to a normal person would require extra attention and a step by step evaluation.
Since Genie, demonstrated no sense of personality, leave alone that of sexuality, I would apply the slow approach to get Genie learn the environment. This would enable her effectively discover things by herself through experience. When Genie was eighteen years old, she still had a lot of difficulty in learning basic aspects of life. As a researcher, I would have located her to an appropriate environment, probably a rehabilitation center where she would start to learn by discovering things by her own. The handling of the Genie’s case was subjected into three big mistakes. Firstly, the psychologist who developed as attention to study her case placed her in an appropriate position and condition. As she was already a severe victim, Genie would have benefited much from a direct support rather than the multiple unnecessary diagnoses on her. Secondly, Genie’s further committed suicide fearing of conviction. His situation would rather have been handled differently. This could allow a much mental diagnosis from the father himself and try to connect with his daughter. The third mistake is that Genie was rescued and exposed to a fast approach to learning the environment. The condition could have been handled in a better way. In assisting Genie into a fully recovery, I would have opted for a more comprehensive way to keep her learn new things. This would entail activities like going out to social environment so that she could get to understand the environment better.
3. Your mission for this question is to experience the enhanced senses of the “C” cases of feral children. SIT IN A DARKENED, SILENT CLOSET FOR 1 HOUR. Let me know what you experienced and what happened to your senses as the time progressed. In this assignment you are to pay particular attention to the sense of hearing and smell. Without a clock in the room, describe what happened to your perception of time. Can you identify who is walking around outside of this closet by using your sense of hearing (you are testing Kaspar Hauser’s story with this aspect)? What do you notice about being in this darkened room? What happened after you left the darkened room? What did all of this teach you about the “C” cases of the feral children? The difficult part of this question is that since I cannot prove you did these activities --- you have to convince me you actually did these activities. Have fun.
During the period I was seated in a closet engulfed with darkness, it was fun in the beginning, though a bit weird. I could hear, smell and tell every bit of action outside the closet. However, the situation gradually turned into a mess and some sort of irritation. Having spent about ten minutes in the darkness, my normal sense abilities were slowly coming into extinction. This is because I could not further tell what I was seeing or even guess what is outside the closet. As the time progressed it gradually became even difficult for me to suggest any anything happening outside. The only thing I interacted with was the heavy darkness and I could not smell or tell any scent within. It was like my normal functioning senses were greatly affected by the loneliness and the weird environment. Since there was no sound, even that of a clock, and with the darkness all around, the perception of time became meaningless. Every moment past like the previous one and it was difficult to judge the exact time it was. However, as time passed I realized that, I could make suggestion of what could be happening outside. I had to develop a great ability interpreting the movements and sound that came from outside the closet. This is because that was the only option for me left for my interaction.
Being in neglected darkness for the one hour time period, I noticed that my senses are not in normal functioning as I expected. Instead, I was turning my attention to adapt the new environment by all means. When I came out of the closet, I realized that I was completely under a new world for the past one hour. Things inside the closet were much different compared to what was outside. My senses now began to work normally as before. This reminds me of the case of Genie, the feral child who was exposed to severe abuse. As people develops, they respond to their environment accordingly and as they grow. A person’s behavior is championed by what they perceive. When I was inside the closet, I was uncomfortable with the darkness but it became part and parcel of me. It became normal to me and when immediately I was out, the light and everything outside was a new challenge. Therefore unless an individual lives under a normal environment, they are doomed to adopt some abnormality in both physical and social abilities.
4. This question allows you to actually DO some sociology. Media is identified as an agent of socialization. Your assignment is to study children’s books as an agent of socialization. You are to study 3 children’s books to use as examples. One of the books should be targeted to a pre-school age child and the second two should target a school age child. Read the books and discover what is being taught to the young reader. Describe the books to me. You are to identify at least 3 norms (the reader of this book should or should not ) that are constructed in each book. Identify the socialization occurring within these books.
Media is one of the very important agents of socialization. When a child is born, they are exposed to the environment in which they perceive things as guided by their families or people close to them. At pre-school stage, a child is expected to have stated to learn things on other person perspective. This is the stage where children require much assistance so that they can grasp every aspect of language and basic interaction skills. Books are a good example of media that enhances language development. The learning abilities of children at distinctive ages require different types of books specifically designed to address the learning expectations during these different ages. For instance, at the pre-school stage, there are books full of pictures of basic home commodities. These include, a cup, a pen, a radio, a book, and other thing colorfully designed to attract attention of the pre-school kids. Here, children are involved in repetition type of learning. This is where, the teacher points to a particular picture of an object and mentions its name multiple times. This enables kids to gain a sense of difference between things and objects. They repeat after the teacher and in the process, they get to differentiate between a pen and a book. This is the basic knowledge transference, and it is easily transferred to young children that adults.
At slightly above the pre-school age, a child gradually learns more aspects of language and reasoning. It is during this time that children can combine things together. Therefore, arithmetic and books that teaches logic are introduced to a child at this stage. For example, a child is taught basic addition and subtraction, that is one plus one, two, three and so forth. In so doing, a child develops skills to make simple decisions and judgment. Their skill of reasoning is also enhanced. Thereafter, a child grows to the normal school ongoing age. Here, such children have to be taught to internalize with the environment in a more effective way. They mental capacity is much greater to accommodate more aspects of reasoning and logic. Teachers use books such as story books, advanced mathematics integrated with social interaction so that they discover things by their own. The main objective is to get them effectively interact with the environment. This enhances their development towards normal functioning human beings.