Iker Jiménez recently highlighted a troubling experiment involving stuttering children during the broadcast of “Cuarto Milenio” on October 19. This discussion focused on an unsettling historical event from a time when various institutions, some operating clandestinely, engaged in inappropriate practices with vulnerable populations.
The experiment, reportedly led by Wendell Johnson, targeted children believed to be residing in a state-run orphanage. The research aimed to induce stuttering in these children, who were initially without speech issues. Johnson selected a group of these orphans for his study, the outcomes of which were highly controversial.
According to the program, the methods used in this research were far from beneficial. Many children were left feeling isolated, and tragically, some even took their own lives as a result of the psychological trauma inflicted by the experiment. The fear of rejection and the stigma associated with stuttering played a significant role in their suffering.
As detailed on “Cuarto Milenio,” details of Johnson”s experiment did not surface publicly until some time after it was conducted. The scientist was wary of jeopardizing his reputation, especially given the historical context of the atrocities committed by the Nazis against the Jewish population. Once the nature of this research became known, contemporary media quickly condemned it.
Furthermore, two of the girls who participated in the study bravely shared their experiences, publicly denouncing the practices they endured under the so-called experts. Experts featured on the program, including the vice-rector of a prominent institution, pointed out the severe long-term consequences faced by many of the participating children, indicating that some ended up isolated or tragically succumbed to suicide as a direct result of their experiences in Johnson”s experiments.
