Feral Children: Between Myth and Reality

This essay examines the phenomenon of so-called feral children from an interdisciplinary perspective that brings together multiple analytical lenses. In cultural and literary representations, the feral child is often portrayed as an exceptionally adaptive, physically strong, and socially competent being. These imaginaries are contrasted in the essay with historical and clinical cases of children who grew up under conditions of extreme social isolation. This comparison reveals that such cases are in reality associated with severe and often lasting impairments in language acquisition, motor development, and socio-emotional functioning. Drawing on the critical period hypothesis and attachment theory, the essay argues that early exposure to human interaction is essential for the development of fundamental cognitive, linguistic, and relational capacities.