Final answer:
Sofia is demonstrating resilience, the ability to overcome trauma from her past abuse and become a well-adjusted adult. Her positive outcome contrasts with research suggesting that child abuse victims often struggle with long-term psychological issues, showing that developmental outcomes can be highly variable.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sofia, who was abused as a child but has become a well-adjusted adult without lingering issues, is demonstrating resilience. This psychological concept is exemplified by individuals who overcome difficult experiences and function normally despite adversity. Research has shown that while a significant proportion of abused children may exhibit negative behaviors, some are able to break the cycle of abuse and do not develop long-term psychological issues. Sofia's case contradicts the observational learning theory where one would expect her to replicate abuse as witnessed in childhood. Instead, her positive adjustment may stem from various protective factors such as supportive relationships, strong coping skills, and perhaps therapy or intervention.
Genie, another case study within the field, represents an extreme instance of neglect and how it affects language acquisition and socialization. While Genie's situation shows how formative early childhood experiences can be for developmental milestones, Sofia's resilience serves as a hopeful contrast and suggests that developmental outcomes can be quite variable.
A person like Sofia, who transcends past trauma to lead a well-adjusted adulthood, certainly contributes to an evolving perspective on the effects of early trauma on lifelong development.