Final answer:
Children who have lived in extreme isolation, such as Danielle, Genie, and Oxana Malaya, often face major developmental challenges. Such cases provide valuable insights into the role of socialization in human development, especially concerning social, cognitive, and language skills. Psychologists and sociologists study these rare instances to understand the effects of social deprivation and the importance of early social contact.
Step-by-step explanation:
Children who grow up in extreme isolation, such as the cases of Danielle and Genie, often face profound difficulties in various aspects of their development. These individuals tend to have significant impairments in social, cognitive, and language skills due to the lack of critical early social interaction. Sociologists and psychologists study these extreme cases to understand the importance of socialization in human development. The case of Oxana Malaya, a girl raised with dogs, also illustrates the severe impacts of social deprivation. While physical needs for survival might be met, the absence of social contact can lead to a condition sometimes referred to as being feral. In the case of attachment, children like these may exhibit disorganized attachment, having a difficult time forming emotional bonds and often showing erratic behavior.
Harry and Margaret Harlow's research with rhesus monkeys highlighted the necessity of social comfort over just sustenance by showing monkeys preferred a terrycloth mother over a wire mother even without food provision. Attachment theory and socialization experiences have a significant impact on a child's psychological development. Studies have demonstrated that without social interaction, children not only suffer from lack of sociability and empathy but also lack the basic skills such as walking and talking, which are cultivated through observation and imitation during early stages of life.
Feral children cases like those mentioned provide keen insight into social and cognitive development and the consequences of social isolation. These cases are imperative for understanding the development of personal identity and the acquisition of language and social skills in children.