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An Evaluation of the Process of Resocialisation.

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Submitted By rambone13
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An evaluation of the process of resocialisation.
Resocialisation can be described as the mental and emotional retraining of an individual, so they may function in an environment other to what they are accustomed to. In the case of Genie, research suggested that although some effects of privation were reversible; as she was observed forming attachments with her carers and the positive development of her social skills. It was unfortunately down to the prolonged negative cognitive effects of her privation, which ultimately ended any possibility of her resocialisation.
Genie had missed the critical period according to the theory of attachment. This theory by John Bowlby a psychoanalyst, suggested that all children are born with an innate instinct to form attachments in order to survive. He believed that a child must form a monotropic relationship or else severe consequences in social development could occur. The result would be irreversible developmental problems in the form of reduced intelligence, aggression or depression. A flaw in Bowlby’s theory was the fact he didn’t recognise the differences between privation and deprivation. Treating both as an equal entity, adding doubt to his 44 thieves experiment (1944).
Harry Harlow on the other hand recognised the difference between privation/deprivation. Harlow, contributed work to Bowlby’s theory, with his controversial research on rhesus monkeys. Harlow basically thought that the relationship with caregivers was an important role in a child’s development, which impacted on their normal functioning and relationships throughout their lives. During one of his experiments that involved removing the monkey from its mother at birth and isolating it, Harlow observed that these monkeys became emotionally disturbed. After a year of isolation, these monkeys were unable to form any kind of relationship or function normally.

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