Analyzing Genie's LAD Theory

It is impossible not to get shocked, sad, intrigued and angry while reading Genie’s case study. It is always shocking and sad to learn that parents can abuse their own children. Besides, it is also shocking and sad to see how researchers can put their research above the well-being of another human being, especially a child. In addition, it is intriguing trying to understand what goes on in the minds of those people, parents and researchers, doing what they did. It seems that the father believed there was a reasonable purpose of treating Genie the way he did by the letter he left before killing himself, “the world will never understand” (Cherry, 2016, August 20). Maybe he thought that he could conduct some sort of research with her daughter. …show more content…
Genie was able to learn how to say words and how to add up to three words together in a reasonably short time (Cherry, 2016, August 20). This shows that Genie had the skill to learn language, which other species do not have. Therefore, the case study demonstrates that she has the necessary genetic material that allows her to develop language, which is the concept of the LAD theory (Belsky, 2013, p. 105). However, the article states that Genie was able to develop language only while she was being reinforced by the researchers; and that her language skills regressed once the government stopped funding the research and she had to live in foster homes (Cherry, 2016, August 20). Hence, the behavioral reinforcement theory’s hypothesis that people learn how to speak by reinforcement overrides the LAD theory (Belsky, 2013, p. 105). In conclusion, Genie’s case study indicates that for language to develop, it is necessary first to have the necessary genome, then, it is imperative that the person receives the necessary stimulus and