It is difficult for someone to imagine themselves at thirteen years old, without having a clear perception of their being and hardly able to walk or talk. Unfortunately this was the reality for young Genie in the movie “Genie: Secret of the Wild Child”. Instead of growing up in a loving home, Genie was locked up, sometimes shackled, in a dark room, alone and under the control of her abusive parents. More than a decade of isolation left her barely able to walk or talk at the age of thirteen. Genie's story is a great example of how a person's behavior is related to early life and can be explained through sociological theories, not human nature. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay This analysis will focus on the importance of primary socialization, symbolic interactionism, and culture, highlighting how these factors were necessary in the development of the early "Genie's" sense of self. Primary socialization begins early in a child's life and is essential because during this period children develop basic values ​​and norms, as well as ideas of themselves. Through parents and family influences, we acquire a collective body of knowledge that prepares us for future social interactions. As shown in the film, Genie had been isolated from any social interaction except minimal encounters with her abusive parents. This profoundly affected Genie's psyche and his ability to learn, as he should have developed these skills years earlier. The researchers had to compare Genie's mind with that of a child, unaware of himself and who still knew nothing about the outside world. Symbolic interactionism is the development of someone's self-concept and identity through daily interaction with others. To acquire basic socialization skills, symbolic interactionism is necessary. This method attributes meaning to one's social environment. Genie lacked social skills, as she was never placed in a social environment or given the opportunity to develop her own identity. Solitary confinement is probably the worst type of punishment she received, as it deprived her of the basic human interactions she needed to survive. After being rescued, Genie's transition to the public environment was very difficult. It took many months of hard work by professionals to see even the slightest progress in listening and mannerisms. Over time, Genie was able to recognize some symbols and was able to pronounce several words, through the constant interaction she would have received as a child. Most children grow up interacting with society, yet Genie has lacked this for thirteen years. Further advances that included the foundations of symbolic interactionism were needed to enable her to develop her own identity. Society's expectations for a girl in her early adolescence are typically specific, many would expect her to be in seventh grade, having acquired the basics of reading and writing. and communication skills. These expectations are the result of culture, Genie was far from any of these expectations, which is why researchers were so attracted to her. Although culture is constantly evolving, it is still crucial to belong to certain social groups to develop a sense of self. Most people begin to belong to a culture, or multiple cultures, early in their lives. It was impossible for Genie to see himself as belonging to a culture, above all.