Child Psychology: Critical Period of Language Development Analysis

This assignment examines the critical period for language development in children, drawing on Lenneberg's theory and Genie's case study. The student analyzes whether a critical period exists, supported by the provided article, and explores factors that contributed to Genie's lack of language skills, including early trauma, isolation, and abuse. The assignment also discusses Genie's limited ability to develop normal language and the impact of her environment on language acquisition. Furthermore, it explores the general process of language development in children, emphasizing the role of exposure, mimicking, and the importance of communication and interaction for building speaking skills. The student references relevant research to support their analysis, including the works of Diaz, Saxton, Black, Karmiloff-Smith, and others.

Running head: CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
Activity 3
The critical stage for language development
There is indeed a crucial period for language development in infants, after which they
are unable to learn and grasp thins around them. Even Lenneberg's theory of 1967 supports
the above view. According to the theory, it is stated that a child cannot learn the language
after they have attained the age of puberty (Diaz, 2016). Children, when they are young, can
grasp things. Genie had passed this critical period and was never able to master the
grammatical speech as her mental health had retarded due to a lack of exposure. Genie’s
father confined her to a locked room due to which she was never able to speak and
communicate. Even when a deaf infant is exposed to sign language, he/she begins showing
gestures like audible babies. Therefore, this suggests that early experience shapes the
language of the child and his/her behavior.
Factors affecting the lack of language skills
Genie, from a very young age, was separated from her mother and brother. When she
needed care and love, she was confined to a room and tortured by her father. This torture
became a trauma for her and she went quiet. She had no exposure to the outside world and
people and she only encountered her father’s growls and scolding which she did not
understand as it was not a language. She even crossed the age of puberty after which her
mental and speech growth stopped. Also, while she was recovering from her trauma in foster
care, she was a victim of abuse. She was still being abandoned after all the efforts were made
to civilize her which further deteriorated her health. These were the factors that led to Genie’s
lack of language skills.

2CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
Normal Language
Genie was able to speak for sometime after great care that was given by the doctors.
However, hateful comments as well as finger-pointing that was followed by a court case once
again exposed her to exploitation and abuse, after which she regressed. She still had to
experience the psychological confinement that restricted her to learn the common language.
Her father only growled at her due to which she was unable to grasp his speech. She could
only communicate through gestures. People who adopted her soon refused to accept her that
led to further trauma. After recollecting the incident of her childhood torture through gestures
and being forbidden to meet her mother, Genie was never able to regain the normal speech as
others.
Development of language in children
Communication comprises of speech as well as language. Children from their
childhood are taught the above two. The development of language takes place at an early age
but goes on until adolescence. Children develop language by the exposures that they
experience. Their mind is vulnerable to the slightest change that takes place (Saxton, 2017).
What they hear is what they learn. If there is no communication in front of the child, then
he/she may not develop the skills of speaking. Children mimic the sounds and language that
are uttered by others as their brains have been programmed in that way (Black, 2017). Older
children should be communicated often to develop their language skills. Poor eye contact and
attention can also lead to problems in developing language (Karmiloff-Smith, 2018).
Therefore, children should be given the best exposure to sounds and conversations to build
their speaking skills.

3CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
References
Black, M. M., Walker, S. P., Fernald, L. C., Andersen, C. T., DiGirolamo, A. M., Lu, C., ... &
Devercelli, A. E. (2017). Early childhood development coming of age: science
through the life course. The Lancet, 389(10064), 77-90.
Diaz, C. (2016). The critical period hypothesis.
Karmiloff-Smith, A. (2018). Development itself is the key to understanding developmental
disorders. In Thinking developmentally from constructivism to
neuroconstructivism (pp. 97-117). Routledge.
Saxton, M. (2017). Child language: Acquisition and development. Sage.