Activity 2 PED04
Activity 2 PED04
EXPLORE
Activity 1: Different Perspectives, Different Responses
Here is an excerpt about the case of Victor of Aveyron, the feral child that Jean Marc Itard
worked with. Read the excerpt carefully and answer the questions below.
Victor of Aveyron
"...He is unusual to our food, selecting his nourishment by smell but at the same time indifferent
to fragrant or foul odors: lying flat on the ground to drink; tearing garments placed upon him and
trying to constantly escape; walking often on all fours; fighting with his teeth; giving few marks
of intelligence; having no articulate language even devoid of the faculty of speech. It was later
discovered that the boy's hearing was insensitive to loud noises and to music; yet he readily
heard the fall of a nut. His sense of touch was likewise deficient. As to sight, his eyes constantly
wandered and could not be fixed on object."
Bonaterre (1798)
How do you think would the view and treatment of Victor be different if he was discovered...
1. during the era of extermination?
The treatment of targeted groups or communities has traditionally been marked by great
cruelty, violence, and oppression during periods of annihilation or genocide. The
systematic attempts to eradicate or eradicate particular ethnic, religious, or cultural
groups characterize these terrible eras in human history.
2. during the era of ridicule?
Due to the negative perceptions and stereotypes attached to them, those who are the target
of ridicule may experience social isolation. Those who are the target of ridicule may
require mental health support, such as counseling or therapy, to help them cope with the
emotional toll of being mocked or ridiculed.