who are feral children ?

Social Psychology (10th Edition)
10th Edition
ISBN:9780134641287
Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Publisher:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Chapter1: Introducing Social Psychology
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who are feral children ?

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Introduction

The term "feral" refers to children who are isolated from other humans or who are suspected of being separated. Whether of circumstance or on intent, these children have grown up with little to no human contact. They haven't been exposed to human love or affection, and they haven't been introduced to social interaction through spoken language. Animals are thought to have reared these children.

Explanation

These children have survived without direct human interaction, relying on the assistance of wild animals that have incorporated them into their herds. When many of these children were rescued from the wild and reintegrated into human society, scholars were intrigued by their continued animalistic nature and apparent inability to learn a language.

Such children were first described as having nonhuman characteristics such as running on all fours, scavenging and hunting for food, extraordinary hearing, and a lack of language. In fact, feral children lack the fundamental social skills that are usually acquired during the enculturation phase. For example, they are unable to learn to use a toilet, have difficulty walking straight, and show a complete lack of interest in human activity. They seem to be mentally challenged and have a near-impossible time understanding human language.

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