Many of the normal-speaking children in Group IA who were told they were stutterers began to stutter . They developed anxiety, self-doubt, and avoidance behaviors. Some stopped speaking altogether in the experimental setting. Their speech, once fluent, became halting, repetitive, and strained.
Children in the control groups who were praised showed no negative effects. One child who already stuttered but received positive feedback actually improved.
It was finally unearthed in 2001 by a San Jose State University researcher named Mary Silverstein, who was researching Johnson's work. The story broke in the San Jose Mercury News , and the world was horrified. The nickname "Monster Study" was coined by some of Johnson's own colleagues, who were ashamed of his legacy.
