Classical Conditioning In The Wild Children

This 1970 film is based on true events in a French forest where a child is found who cannot walk, speak, read, or write (IMDb, n.d.). The film emphasizes the pain of adolescence as Dr. Jean Itard takes on the challenge of Victor, a non-verbal wild boy found abandoned in the woods (Rotten Tomatoes, 2018). Realizing the institute’s cruel methods, Dr. Itard brings Victor to his home to implement communication techniques through kindness and compassion towards Victor (Rotten Tomatoes, 2018). The film demonstrates the implications that an individual may face after experiencing social isolation for a majority of their lifetime. Classical conditioning suggests that everything from speech to emotional responses was simply patterns of stimulus and response (McLeod, 2014). In stage one of classical conditioning; the unconditioned stimulus produces an unconditioned

In both films, the patients mirror or react to people based on the way they are treated. In The Wild Child, Victor responds positively to the caregiver because she provides him with attention, care, and nurture. Victor does not respond this way and becomes uneasy and impatient with the news reporters who approach him in an aggressive and interrogative way. In Awakenings, Leonard responds calmly and well to a woman he likes named Paula. Paula is patient, open-minded, and nonjudgmental with Leonard which seems to bring out those characteristics in him as well. The same concept is applied to Victor with his caretaker and Dr. Itard because they take care of him and demonstrates affection towards Victor. This film has many components regarding the complications that an individual faces when abandoned or socially isolated from society. Victor is able to overcome many challenges and work towards become a socially accepted individual with the help of Dr. Itard and his