What term is used for individuals who were not raised with human contact or care?

The term used for individuals who were not raised with human contact or care is "feral children." This term specifically refers to children who have lived in isolation from human civilization, often lacking exposure to language, social norms, and nurturing relationships that are essential for normal social and cognitive development. These cases usually arise from extreme neglect or abandonment, where the child may have been raised by animals or left to fend for themselves in nature.

Feral children serve as significant case studies in understanding the impact of environment and social interaction on development. Their experiences illustrate the crucial role that socialization and attachment play in shaping cognitive and emotional growth. In contrast, children who are simply neglected or abandoned may still have had some prior exposure to socialization, which differentiates them from feral children. Orphaned children have experienced loss of caregivers but typically have had initial human contact and care, while socially isolated children may have been raised in a non-supportive environment but still possess some level of social contact.