Attachment theory relates to the case of Genie in a significant way. It is undeniably true that Genie failed to form a secure attachment with his parents in her early childhood. The relationship between her and her father was irredeemably severe because of how the father worked hard to isolate her. Later on in her teenage, this had a negative impact on her behavior. In fact, the problem associated with attachment, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, hampered the ability of Genie to effectively use the language despite having learned more vocabulary. The neglect disengaged Genie from her parents, and consequently, she was not taught how to speak or be self-reliant, and that explains the reason why she still wore diapers until the age of thirteen.
Remarkably, the lack of attachment between Genie and her parents was quite evident through the lowest levels of self-esteem she exhibited later in her life. Genie could not self-disclose to others despite showing signs that she was interested in everything that was near her. It means that as a child, Genie did not form a primary attachment that would have acted as the base for exploring the world in her future life. Since the attachment relationship was not established, it disrupted Genie’s future social well-being. Truly, Genie’s physical and mental development of Genie was badly damaged due to a lack of attachment to her parents.
Sourse: Genie Wiley – TLC Documentary.