Imbecile
Imbecile
Imbecile (/ˈɪmbɪsiːl/; from Latin imbecillus, meaning weak, or feeble) is a term used in the past to describe a person with moderate to severe intellectual disability.
Etymology
The term "imbecile" originates from the Latin word imbecillus, meaning weak or feeble. It was used in a medical context in the 19th and early 20th centuries to categorize individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Usage
In the early 20th century, psychologists and other medical professionals used the term "imbecile" to refer to a category of intellectual disability situated between idiocy and moronity. This classification system, known as the Binet-Simon scale, was developed by French psychologists Alfred Binet and Théodore Simon in the early 1900s.
The term "imbecile" gradually fell out of favor in the medical community due to its pejorative connotations and was officially dropped from medical literature by the mid-20th century. It has since been replaced by more precise and less stigmatizing terms, such as "intellectual disability" or "developmental delay."
Related Terms
- Idiocy: A more severe form of intellectual disability than imbecility, according to the Binet-Simon scale.
- Moronity: A less severe form of intellectual disability than imbecility, according to the Binet-Simon scale.
- Intellectual Disability: A broad term that has replaced outdated terms like "imbecile," "idiot," and "moron" in modern medical and psychological literature.
- Developmental Delay: A term often used in place of "intellectual disability," particularly when discussing children who are slow to reach developmental milestones.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Imbecile
- Wikipedia's article - Imbecile
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