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The Grading of Defect: Vicissitudes of a Classification

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Abstract

Progress towards the grading of mental defectives into idiot, imbecile, moron (or feeble-minded) is here traced in a selection of authors: Esquirol, Mayo, Howe, Griesinger, and D. Galton. The starting point is Pinels failure to distinguish amentia and dementia, the close Galton’s recognition of a feeble-minded class on the basis of sensory test indications. The influence on the development of grading of the following is indicated: somatic theories of mental abnormality, concern over the provision of institutional care, interest in moral inadequacy, and the prevalence of terminology which is emotive rather than factual. Present terminology is queried on this basis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Tasmania, USA

    J. A. Cardno

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  1. J. A. Cardno
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Additional information

The research reported in this article was made possible by a grant from the Australian Research Grants Committee, No. 65/15261, for which grateful acknowledgement is made.

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Cardno, J.A. The Grading of Defect: Vicissitudes of a Classification. Psychol Rec 18, 597–606 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393811

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