1. Genie: A Scientific Tragedy
Book: Russ Rymer
Presentation: Courtney Neis

2. Irene Genie’s Mother Atlus, OK
Felt she had 2 sets of parents – Mamaw an Dadaw
Close to her mother
Drought
Move to Southern California
Father found job at filling station, little hope for kids
Non-traditional solution to poverty
Genie’s mother, Irene
Grew up in Atlus, OK.
Felt she had 2 sets of parents, her biological parents and family friends she referred to as “Mamaw and Dadaw” – who also took care of Irene’s father as a teen after he was thrown of out the house
Irene was closer to her father than her mother. One incident w/ her mother – forced her to help pull laundery through an old fashioned wringer and the handle hit her in the head which eventually contributed to blindness in one eye.
During her younger years the drought was getting worse and her family moved to Southern California where her Father found a job at a filling station, but there was little hope for the kids’ future.
Irene found a non traditional solution to poverty and married a man 20 years older than her when she was in her 20’s.
Parents opposed.

3. Clark Genie’s Father Rough life Unemployed
WWII – worked in aircraft assembly line
Genie’s Father – Clark had a rough life – he grew up in foster homes and orphanages across the Pacific NW
He met Irene in Hollywood where she worked at a drug store behind a soda fountain. Clark was unemployed but because of the war, the Gov’t freshened him up on his math skills and he got a good job working as a machinist in Santa Monica in an aircraft assembly line

4. Marriage and Kids Early years appeared to be happy
Clark was jealous and overprotective
“My life came to an end on my wedding day” – Irene
Clark didn’t want kids
Four children – only 2 survived
Child 1
Irene beat during pregnancy
Crying infuriated Clark
Died at 2.5 months
Child 2 - RH blood poisoning
Child 3
Healthy boy
Development hindered – Neglect
Saved by paternal grandmother
Child 4 – Genie
RH blood poisoning
Development hindered
Their early years appeared to be happy, though Irene went from a confining upbringing to a confining marriage. Clark – jealous man. Irene generously described him as “overprotective” QUOTE
Clark had a strong desire not to have children – thought they were noisy. 5 years into marriage Irene got pregnant w/ first child
1st child – clark beat her during pregnancy. While at hospital being treated for injuries she went into labor. At home the baby’s crying infuriated Clark. He put her in the garage where she died at 2.5 months
2nd child – died of RH blood poisoning shortly after birth
3rd child – healthy boy – survived infancy – development stifled b/c of neglect. Slow to talk and not toilet trained at 3. Was saved by paternal grandmother who took him in for several months and got him back on track. (John?)
April 1957 – 4th child – RH blood poisoning at birth, but had a blood transfusion shortly after. – same developmental fate as brother – but no paternal grandmother to save her - b/c she had died

5. Clark’s Mother
Clark was largely attached to his mother, despite not being there during childhood.
Supported him until he got job as a machinist
Irene thought she was making a pest of herself
December 1958 – The Accident. Clark’s mother got hit by a car while crossing the street with her grandson to buy an ice cream cone.
Afterwards, Clark started to change and was severely depressed
A world without his mother, a world that did not care to adequately punish his mother’s murderer, was a world he could live without
Clark quit job and moved his family into his mother’s house
Clark had an extraordinary attachment to his mother, even though she wasn’t around for his childhood. She was intent on making up for the inattention of his childhood by always being there now. She supported him even after he got his job by paying his bills and always coming over to help out.
Irene thought she was making a pest of herself. Clark and his mom argued a lot but he still always chose his mother over Irene.
The Accident – hit by a car while crossing street with her grandson. The car dragged her down the street in a frantic escape. Next day – teenager arrested on hit and run and drunken driving charges. He got probationary sentence. The light sentence infuriated Clark. QUOTE.
He quit his job and moved his family into his mother’s house where he basically lived with his family as prisoners.

6. Home Life
Irene was largely dependent on Clark because of her blindness
Son was allowed outside of house for very little
Sleeping arrangements – living room
Clark dreaded people taking advantage of his daughter
Pediatrician pronounced her “a retarded little girl with kernicterus”
Clark believed his daughter was profoundly retarded and needed protection from evil of the world
Because of Irene’s blindness she was almost completely dependent on Clark. Their son was allowed out of the house to play with neighbor or school – little else – in the house he was basically a hostage.
He slept on a pallet in living room. Mother slept on floor, and Clark in an easy chair in front of TV sometimes with a gun in lap.
Clark believed his daughter was would be very vulnerable to exploitation and dreaded the idea of people taking advantage of her. During one of her early and rare medical exams it was noted that she was a little slow and a pediatrician pronounced her “a retarded little girl with kernicterus” – a condition that sometimes results from a botched Rh blood transfusion. – Clark took this as her being profoundly retarded and was convinced she needed protection from the evil of the world. And who better prepared than him?

7. Genie’s Home Life
Confined to a small bedroom in back of house, harnessed to an infant’s potty seat
Left to sit on a chair – unable to move her fingers, hands, feet, or toes
At night, placed in sleeping bag which was stationed to hold her arms stationary and placed in a crib with wire mesh sides and a wire mesh cover on top
Little auditory stimulation – no TV or radio.
Wasn’t allowed to make any noises
Was confined to a small room in the back of the house harnessed to an infant’s potty seat, left to sit day after day, with nothing to do
At night she slept in a sleeping bag which was stationed to hold her arms stationary and placed in a crib with wire mesh on sides and mesh cover over top
Genie had littler auditory stimulation, May have heard occasional plane or environmental noises from windows – but since the room was in the back she heard little from the street
Occasionally Genie would make noises to attract attention but her father would beat her for it. A piece of wood was left in her room for the sole purpose of beating her.

8. Genie’s Home Life cnt.
Little to look at or touch – no carpet or pictures in room, windows covered
“Entertainment”
Two raincoats, “Partly Edited” copies of TV log, Cottage Cheese containe, Spool of thread
Diet
Baby foods, Cereal, Soft boiled egg
Clark was convinced she’d die before 12
Promised Irene she could seek help for Genie if she lived past 12
Occasionally was allowed to “play” with the two rain coats outside the room.
She was sometimes given copies of the TV log with pictures cut out that Clark thought to be too suggestive (women advertising swimming pools). Was also given the occasional cottage cheese container and empty thread spools
She was fed hurriedly, usually by having food shoved into her mouth. If she choked or spit it out she’d have her face rubbed in it
Convinced shed die before 12. Promised if she lived past 12 she could seek help, but as she did survive, he went back on the promise
Irene was too blind to even dial the phone and was forbidden under threat of death to contact her parents – she was basically helpless
Finally, when Genie was 13 ½, Irene threatedned to leave unless he called her parents. Later that day Irene took Genie and left her husband

9. Found
Irene was searching for office of “Service for Blind” but accidentally stumbled into the general social services office
90% blind in left eye and 100% blind in right eye
Social worker originally thought Genie was autistic
Genie’s condition when found
50 lbs
Incontinent – no control over urination/defecation
Couldn’t chew solid food/could hardly swallow
Couldn’t focus eyes beyond 12 feet
Salivated constantly
Had almost 2 complete sets of teeth
Showed no perception of heat/cold
Couldn’t do anything requiring full extension of legs (hop, skip, climb)
Vocab – probably less than 20 words
Because of cataracts and a detached retina, Irene was searching for the office of “Service for the Blind” when she left. Accidentally stumbled into general social services office.
90% blind in left 100% in right. The social worker original thought Genie was autistic
Understood “red, blue, green, brown, mother, walk, go, door, jewelry, box, and bunny”
Productive vocab “stopit and nomore”

10. The Aftermath
Clark and Irene were arrested and charged with child abuse
Admitted to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles
Clark committed suicide on the court date
He left 2 notes – nothing for his wife or daughter
For the police: “My son is out front with friends. He hasn’t the slightest idea of what is going to happen”
For his son: “Don’t take that shirt back. It’s for my funeral. You know where my blue shirt is. Underwear in hall closet. I love you. Good bye and be good – Dad”
Irene got off on a not guilty plea
Clark and Irene were arrested and charged with child abuse. Genie was admitted to the Children’s hospital of Los Angeles.
On the morning of the court date, November 20, 1970, clark committed suicide with .38 caliber smith and Wesson revolver which belonged to his mother. He was 70 years old. He left two notes, but nothing for his daughter or wife.
First for the police –
Second for his son 0
Irene got off on a not guilty plea on the grounds that she had been forced into her role by an abusive husband.

11. New People in Genie’s Life
Susan Curtiss & Victoria Fromkin
Susan was a 1st year grad student in linguistics department studying language acquisition when her faculty advisor, Victoria Fromkin, invited her into the case
The press came to the hospital where Genie was – at the time it had one of the most prominate and up to date pediatric facilities on the west coast
Genie was now in view of many doctors and psychologists who all becoming involved with her progress
David Rigler had ben working as an evaluator of grant applications of the National Institute of Metal Health and his experience proved helpful in securing initial fudning for research on Genie. In February of 1971, a contract with NIMH for $21,500 would run until the following September during which time consultants would be invited for preliminary research and a conference would be held for long term plans.
David Rigler
David was a professor of pediatrics and psychology at University of Southern California and the chief psychologist in the hospital’s psychiatric division

12. New People in Genie’s Life
James Kent (top right)
One of the hospital psychologists who visited Genie the first day she arrived
“As far as I’m concerned Genie was the most profoundly damaged child I’ve ever seen”
Jay Shurley (bottom left)
One of the first outside consultants to visit Genie from Texas
Brought 600 lbs of equipment for investigating brain activity
James Kent – testing her intellectual state was almost impossible – he did notice her fear when he pulled out a puppet. Genie took it from him and threw it on the floor. He picked it up and let her do it again – she was laughing. Playing. – little emotion beyond. When she was angry she would scratch her face, blow her nose violently into her clothes and urinate – never turning anger outward towards another person
Jay Shurley – brought 600 lbs of state of the art equipment for investigating brain activity. For 2 nights he wired Genie to meters, measuring her brain waves while she slept.
He also noted she treated everything, even people, as objects. She’d reach out, touch it, and caress it with her fingers and rub it against her cheek – ask if she didn’t trust her eyes. She even walked with her hands out in front – they called it the bunny walk
Video
:30 Bunny Walk
5:40 Talking
12:30
19:10

13. Critical Period & Language Acquisition
Nature or Nurture
Noam Chomsky – Language Acquisition Device (LAD)
Eric Lenneberg – Critical Period
Part of the reason Genie’s case was so fascinating to psychologists and linguists was that it gave us a unique chance to study the debate about language acquisition first hand.
Nativists say language is Innate while Empiricists suggest environmental roles play a key role
Noam Chomsky proposed we’re born with a Language Acquisition Device (LAD) – an innate ability to understand the principles of language. Once exposed to language, the LAD allows children to learn language
Eric Lenneberg suggested that the ability to acquire language relies on the critical period - a limited span of time during which one is sensitive to external stimuli and capable of acquiring certain skills. According to Lenneberg the Critical Period for language lasts until about age 12, but after the onset of puberty the organization of the brain becomes set and is no longer able to utilize language in a functional manner
If Genie could learn language even though she had missed the critical period, evidence would support Noam Chomsky and the LAD, if she could not, it would suggest Lenneberg’s Critical Period hypothesis was correct.

14. Genie’s Progress in the Hospital
Mental and physical abilities improved quickly
She seemed oblivious to the people fighting over her
After 2 weeks she was released to the hospital’s rehabilitation center
Starting to develop a sense of self
Starting to obtain speech
Showing remarkable progress on intelligence tests
May 1971 – consultants got together to consider her future under the terms of the NIMH contract
Therapy or Research? Opinions?
By day 3 she could dress herself and was voluntarily using the bathroom, although still incontinent. She was oblivious to those fighting over her because for the first time she was being treated relatively the same as other children
In the rehabilitation center she was free to walk around, play games, or arts and crafts alongside other patients – she was learning freedom
One day she made hitting actions towards another girl b/c she was wearing a dress from the hospital which Genie had previously worn – this was the first time she turned anger outward and her first indication that she was developing a sense of self. Geneie also was developing a sense of possession – would hoard objects, books, and paper cups
May 1971 – the consultants who had been observing Genie got together to consider her future. Some thought therapy should be the upmost concern and anything they might learn would be of secondary consideration. Others thought it was too great of a scientific opportunity and research should be primary
Later that summer Rigler decided that language acquisition would be the primary focus – not teaching her language so much as watching how she learned it – class opinions?

15. The Testing Begins June 4, 1971 – Genie meets Curtis and Fromkin
New linguistic examinations
One of the most tested children in history
Genie spoke very little – whimpers or squeaks
On June 4, Genie first meets Curtis and Fromkin. That summer Curtis and Fromkin were to make a new set of linguistic examinations appropriate for Genie – they devised 26..
The administration of these tests along with numeroius psychological and neurological tests would make Genie possibly one of the most tested children in history – according to David Rilger
Genie spoke very little, her vocalizations were usually whimpers or squeaks considering previously had been beaten for vocalizing.
When she spoke it was tense, breathy and soft – couldn’t be understood. She was also very high pitched and monotonic.
Curtis realized how pointless formal research would be at this time so she decided to watch her for the summer – get to know her and gain her confidence. She kept a journal on Genie’s every utterance.
The first publicly released picture of Genie, taken just after California authorities took control of her care at the age of 13.

16. Genie’s Summer with Jean Butler
Jean volunteered to take Genie on field trips
Jean developed Rubella
July 7 – “Isolation” Genie went to life with Jean
Genie was happy and progressing well
Dispute with the “Genie Team”
Jean – overprotective, restricting visits
Genie Team – ambitious and insensitive
Jean applied to be Genie’s foster parent
Jean, one of Genies teachers, volunteered to take Genie on field trips and into her home. Shortly after, Jean was diagnosed with Rubella. Since Genie had been exposed and may have been contagious, they only humane way to isolate her would be to move in with Jean.
Genie was happy in Jean’s home and was largely progressing. Wet the bed less. Quality of speech improved and Quantity increased.
But Jean and the other caretakers did not always see eye to eye. Jean thought Curtis was inept, David Rigler – self-important and James Kent – over permissive and all of them ambitous and insensitive. Butler thought Genie was being experimented with too much and not being allowed to relax but Dr. Kent Rigler said it was necessary.
The others saw Butler as overprotective and restrictive. It’s said the Butler actually wanted to go into history with Genie. Curtis recalls Butler telling others that she was going to be the next Anne Sullivan (the young nurse famous for rescuing Hellen Keller). Tension between Butler and the Genie Team often erupted into full blown arguments.
Jean eventually applied to be Genie’s foster parent. Although against hospital policy to place patients into homes of those who worked at the hospital.
On the morning of Aug 13, DPSS came to tell her the application had been rejected to be Genie’s foster parent and Geine had to leave. Genie was very upset yelling “no, no, no”

17. Genie with David and Marilyn Rigler
Genie’s new home – scientist on the case
3 children, a cat, golden retriever puppy
Genie was regressing
Grant money and funding
David Rigler released from work at hospital
Genie was only at the Children’s hospital for a short period of time before being moved to her new foster home – David and Marilyn Rigler – scientist working on her case. They had said they would take her in for a short period of time if no one else would.
The Riglers had 3 adolescent children, a cat, and a puppy
Genie got a room and a bathroom downstairs to herself. On her arrival she wasn’t doing well and started to regress. She defecated in the daughters waste basket and urinated every 10 minutes – wherever she was. She hid feces in her room and took things from the other children.
Genie was extremely afraid of the dog. They couldn’t even be in the house at the same time. Eventually they were acquainted.
The grant from the NIMH came through – over the next 2 years it was to provide 100,000 for a wide range of research efforts
As the principal investigator, David Rigler was released from his duties at the hospital about ½ the time – no reduction in pay to attend to his work with Genie. His wife, who was working toward her grad degree in human development would be paid $ a month for her care and assistance of Genie.
They also got $230 a month from LA County for foster home support

18. More Progress at the Rigler’s
Curtiss visited daily
Uncooperative
Compressing sentences
“Monday Curtis come” = “Munkuh” – The Great Abbreviator
Verbally slow
Marilyn Rigler – unofficially in charge of teaching Genie how to behave
Taught Genie how to chew food
Enrolled in nursery school and later public school for the mentally retarded
Speech therapy and some sign language
“Genie Happy”
Curtis visited almost daily to keep track of Genies speech. Genie was often uncooperative – even on good days she never initiated anything and participation was minimal – Curtis decided she was lazy.
Later she begun compressing sentences of several words to one or two syllables. “Monday Curtis Come” would sound like “Munkuh” – this was eventually nicknamed the great abbreviator. She would only say the whole things upon firm request.
Genie was verbally slow. Not in her speech, but more so her reactions to speech – conversation. Curtis once said to her “Tell Rita who you went to see this morning” – took her ten minutes before she came up with a name. It was often hard to tell if she didn’t know the answer to something or just hadn’t answered yet.
Marilyn was unofficially in charge of teaching Genie how to behave. To show her how to chew she would chew with Genies hands held to her jaw – in 4 months she learned to move her jaw similarly.
To show what she wanted she’d grab Marilyn’s face or arm and point.
To express pleasure – she’d moisten tow fingers in her mouth and rub them on Marilyn’s nose
After adjusting to Riglers she was enrolled into nursery school and later public school for the mentally retarded.
At home Genie was given speech therapy and some sign language but she stayed pretty quiet
Around the anniversary of their first meeting, Curtis had taken Genie to the city to go shopping. They sang and marched – Genie seems elated and delighted by everything Curtis did “Genie Happy” she said

19. Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association
Anniversary of Genies arrival in foster home
Symposium – chaired by David Rigler
Howard Hansen – paper of Genies early life
James Kent – 8 months in hospital
Marilyn Rigler – the past year “Adventure: At Home with Genie”
Fromkin, Curtis, and Krashen – Genie’s language skills
Development indicated language acquisition can occur after 5 and the onset of puberty
Dubunk Eric Lenneberg’s theory?
Lenneberg had no interest in studying Genie
The anniversary of Genie arriving in foster care was essentially celebrated publicly – at the annual convention of the American Pscyhological Association which was being held in Honlulu.
Many of Genies watchers flew to attended a symposium chaired by David Rigler. Hansen delivered a paper about Genies early life. James Kent spoke about the 8 months of Genie’s life in the hospital. Marilyn Rigler talked about the past year she’d been in their home in an address called “Adventure: At Home with Genie” and Fromkin, Curtis, and Stephen Krashen (another of fromkins grad students) spoke about Genie’s language skills they had observed.
With Genies progression in vocabulary they thought this may indicate that language acquisition can occur after 5, even after the onset of puberty,. Her linguistic development seemed to contradict the conclusions of some that thought language acquisition occurs during the period where cerebral dominance is developing
They thought Genie was going to disprove Eric Lennebergs’s theory. They believed, at the time, she was going to learn syntax even if the theory at the time said she could not
Leneeberg knew of Genie – had no interest in studying her. He thought the case was “too muddy for good science” and complicated by emotional trauma

20. Summary of Progress Difference between singular and plural nouns
Difference between positive and negative sentences
Some prepositions
Understood yes/no questions
Somewhat use possessives
Genie knew the difference b/t singular and plural nouns. Knew difference b/t positive and negative sentences. She understood meaning of some prepositions
When Mairlyn asked “Where are elephants found” she replied “In Zoo”
Understoond yes/no questions.
Could somewhat use possessives such as “Curtis Chin” or “Marilyn Bike”

21. Summary of Progress Cnt.
Normal children quickly learn how to form negative sentences – Genie was stuck in the beginning stage for almost 3 years
Couldn’t ask a real question
Ex: “Where is may I have a penny?”
Problem with pronouns
“I” her favorite
“You” and “Me” were interchangeable
Skill leveled out almost immediately
Failures made many believe Genie was retarded
Curtis was not convinced – she was smart
She could categorize – some thought key to learning language
Advanced in mental age
“Being with Genie wasn’t like being with a retarded person. It was like being with a disturbed person. She was the most disturbed person I’d ever met. But the lights were on. There was somebody home.” - Curtiss
Developmentally normal children quickly learn how to form negative sentences.
Begin with “no have toy” then “I not have toy” then finally, “I do not have toy” – Genie was stuck at “no have toy” for almost 3 years.
Normal children often ask “why” constantly. Genie was able to understand questions involving “where, when, who, how, why or what” but couldn’t produce her own questions. When tried, came up with:
“Where is may I have a penny?” or “I where is graham cracker on top shelf?”
Pronouns were often missing from her speech entirely. “I” was her favorite. “You” and “me” were interchangeable
“Mama love you” she would say pointing to herself
Genies skills leveled out almost immediately but it took several years to figure this out. Nonverbally she had no handicapped. Without words she could make her feelings, wants, and needs known.
Her failures made many scientist believe Genie was retarded. Curtis disagreed. On some tests, Genie scored higher than anyone had ever. On spatial tests she got perfect adult scores. She could imagine a figure with pieces missing and could look at something from one perspective and know how it would look from another perspective. She could draw silhouettes, and categorize.
Some thought the key to learning language was categorizing since grammar is just organizing things into smaller categories. Genie could organize but not learn grammar.
Curtis also found that Genie advanced a mental age for every year she hadn’t been in isolation. – this was the strongest evidence she was not retarded. QUOTE

22. Video (7:30) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjZolHCrC8E#t=382
Genie and David Rigler

23. NIMH found the lack of progress troubling One year extension
Trips to Temple City
Most promising case of 20th century to perhaps one of the most tested children in history
NIMH found the lack of progress troubling
One year extension
Rigler applied for another grant
Application was denied
“Very little progress has been made”
“The research goals projected probably will not be realized”
On the “bright” side…
Without funds, Riglers would have to terminate their foster relationship with Genie
The Riglers sometimes drove Genie to Temple City on the weekends to see her mom. They would film Genie in their home eating talking playing, and even took it along on visits with her mother.
During her time at the Riglers she went from one of the most promising cases of the 20th century to one of the most tested children in history.
The NIMH found the lack of progress troubling and suggested new tests to fill in gaps and asked other tests to be re-administered. Rigler was given a years extension and additional money for “developing an adequate research plan” and analyzing research he’d already done.
Rigler later applied for another grant of $226,000 – to support 3 more years of research, but it was rejected. – Said there very little progress had been made that the research goals projected would probably not be realized.
On the bright side…. Committee expressed its opinion that the research posed no substantial risk to the individual who is the object of this proposal
Without the money, Riglers would have to terminate their foster relationship with Genie

24. New Homes For Genie Home to Irene
Irene found it difficult to live with her daughter
Riglers had some money to help – summer camp
November 7 – new foster home
Irene’s visits were seen as disruptions
Genie regressed – seemingly intentionally
Quit speaking – fear of vomiting
At a poolside BBQ they saw how bad Genie had regressed
“I want live back in Marilyn house”
Genie’s bags were soon packed and went home to life with her mother – in the house where she spent her painful childhood and every weekend of the previous 6 months. Irene found it difficult living with her daughter – she thought every irritating habit to be one she picked up at the Riglers and was soon exhausted and overwhelmed.
The riglers had actually worried this would happen and had saved some money to help out. For the first summer they made arrangements for Genie to go to summer camp, but Soon Irene was calling for help from protective services and they began searching for a foster home for Genie.
In her new home, Irene’s visits were seen as disruptions and Curits was the only frequent visitor – Genies reaction was to regress.
Rigler stated she was very bizarre – Genie became constipated to the point where it was very painful. The woman tried to extract fecal matter with an ice-cream stick. No injury, but traumatizing.
Genie also quit speaking at one point. She had a fear of vomiting because she had vomited a couple times and gotten in trouble. She was told if she did it again she couldn’t see her mother again. She was afraid if she opened her mouth she would vomit so she quit speaking and hardly ate.
At a poolside bbq that genie attended, they saw how bad her regression was. She had to be assisted to the bathroom and she snapped at her food as if a crocodile.
Her longing to go back to the Riglers were taken as records of language ability, not records of her feelings or desires.

25. A new grant – more testing
Genie was placed back in the hospital for two weeks and then entered a new foster home
Temporary home over the Christmas holiday
Another “permanent home”
One home refused visitation
Curtis advocated for Genie
Letter to John Miner
March 20, 1978 – Irene regained control of her daughter
In 1977, Curtis and Fromkin received a grant from the National Science foundation, they were now the only scientists funded to work with Genie
After Genie’s 2 week stay in the hospital, she entered a new foster home which worked for a short time but then fell apart b/c of the foster mother’s family pressures.
Genie was then temporarily placed in a new home of the Christmas holiday and then placed in another “permanent home”
One home was refusing visitation to the people who had been such a large part of Genie’s happy years at the Riglers
Curtis spoke up for Genie saying the frequent moves leave her confused and traumatized
On Jan 6, 1978 Curtis wrote a letter to John Miner saying “Not only because these moves are unsettling and require repeated readjustments, but also because she feels rejected – that somehow she is forced to move each time b/c she has been a “bad girl”” At the time she didn’t know it, but when she had wrote the letter, Curtis had seen Genie for the last time 3 days earlier.
On March 20, 1978 Irene regained control of her daughter

26. Curtiss’ Dissertation
Irene’s reaction
Hurt by the term “Wild Child”
“It made me sick at the stomach. I was sick you know, when I saw those things, you know, in print. It takes a lot to make me sick” – reaction to description of Genie’s home life
Irene’s “corrections”
I was not frequently beaten, 2 times in the last year. He did try to kill me 1 time
Genie was able to move her arms, legs, bend forward and to the side
Genie was able to move her arms with the sleeping bag on, it was not a straitjacket. It was an oversized infant’s crib with wire screen around the sides. There was a wire screen on top but I never used it.
Genie did hear speech, our home is very small.
Her father did not beat her
Her father did not bark to her face
Most Importantly: Genie was not forgotten
Curtis had been using this work as her dissertation and write a book.
Irene disliked it before she even opened it. Said she felt hurt that her daughter was classified as a wild child. She was especially upset about the opening chapter about Irene’s life with Clark and their children.
She was quoted saying:…
Irene also had written a letter with some corrections to some of Curtis’ descriptions.. Not sure which is true.
. But Irene was blind. So Take it ask you think

27. The Lawsuit
October 1979 – lawsuit accusing – Hansen, Knapp, David Rigler, James Kent, Susan Curtiss, and the children’s hospital
Accused them of multiple infractions of patient-therapist and patient- physician confidentiality
Accused scientists of performing unethical human experimentation
Faulted John Miner for not protecting Genie from harm while he was her guardian
Asking for compensatory and punitive damages
In October of 1979, Irene brought a lawsuit against Hansen, knap, David Rigler, Susan Curtiss, and the children’s hospital accusing them of multiple infractions of patient-therapist and patient-physician confidentiality.
She also accused the scientists of unethical human experimentation, and faulted John Minder for not protecting Genie from harm while he was her guardian
Irene was asking for compensatory and punitive damages

28. Reactions to the Lawsuit
Testing regimen of hours/week
It was fun, Genie thought most of this as a game
Susan Curtis - “My test periods were never more than 45 minutes on a given day, the rest was playing, going for walks, just being friends”
Scientists were shocked
David Rigler – The mystery became clear for him
Jean Butler
Jean stayed in the shadows
Irene didn’t sound like herself
At one point, Genie was being tested hours/week. One of the scientists reaction to this was that It was fun, Genie thought of it as a game.
Curtis noted that her test periods were never more than 45 minutes and the rest was just being friends.
Genie enjoyed the work.
“She loved the social praise and social reward, which I always gave her for just responding, whether she was right or not. The time that we spent testing was a time when usually it felt intimate. It was just Genie and me very close together, a lot of eye contact, a lot of – we would hug and cheer and do a lot of things, and no one else would – I mean, we wouldn’t have crowds of strangers there that had to be contended with at the same time. So there were things about it that I think were very meaningful to her. And she always got tangible rewards at the end, or even- either a tangible reward or a reward in terms of some special treat that we would go and buy and go and do together, and she loved that part of it, too.”
All the scientists were shocked at the lawsuit and thought it to be very adventurous considering Irene was very timid.
David Rigler remember when the “mystery” became clear. When he gave his deposition he had asked Irene’s lawyer to see her copy of Curtiss’ dissertation which was marked up and underlined. When she handed it to him, the front cover fell open with the name Jean Butler Ruch written inside.
Jean stayed in the shadows but was always putting a bug in her ear that the scientists were overreaching.
When Rigler talked to Irene on the phone she didn’t sound like herself and he got the feeling that he wasn’t dealing with only Irene.

29. Lawsuit (continued) Case lasted 6 years Time dulled the complaint
Case finally almost settled – Jean wanted Irene to decline the offer
Complaint was “dismissed” or rather “upheld”
Curtiss agreed to direct a program for Genie
Children’s hospital agreed to give yearly physical and psychiatric evaluations
Full access to and use of Genie’s records were granted
Curtis relinquished the fund she had set aside for Genie
No other financial penalties
The case lasted almost 6 years, and over time the complaint was dulled
The case came to a point which was determined to be the best interest of Genie. Jean wanted Irene to decline because she thought Irene should get a lot of money, but Irene didn’t care as much
The complaint was dismissed or rather upheld. Curtiss agreed to a direct program for Genie of linguistic, neurolinguistic, and neuropsychological evaluation and language instruction
The hospital agree to yearly physical and psychiatric evals for Genie
Curtis and the other scientists had full access and use of Genie’s records and family history in scientific publications and speeches – as long as they held a certain amount of modesty and donated any income to Genie’s estate
Curtis relinquished the fund she had set aside for Genie from her book and dissertation - $8, – no other financial penalties

30. Where is Genie now? Adult foster care home Southern California
Little is known about current condition
Private investigator - happy
Jay Shurley’s visits
Largely silent
Depressed
Chronically intitutionalized
From what I found online, she is in an adult foster care home in Southern California. Little is known about her present condition. A private investigator who was hired by an anonymous individual in 2000 described her as happy.
Contrary, Jay Shurley visited her on her 27, and 29th birthday and said she was largely silent, depressed, and chronically institutionalized

31. Discussion Reactions/Thoughts?
What kind of problems do you think arose having Rigler as a scientist on her case and one of her primary care givers?
What could they have done, or what would you do differently, that would have benefited Genie in better ways?
If this were a case today, how do you think it would be handled?
How should the ethics of a case such as this be handled?
Genie have an advocate?