Moral insanity
Moral Insanity
Moral Insanity (pronunciation: /ˈmɔːrəl ɪnˈsanɪti/) is a term that was used in the 19th century to refer to a type of mental disorder where the person's morals or ethical behavior were believed to be disturbed or completely absent. The term is no longer in use in modern psychiatry.
Etymology
The term "Moral Insanity" was first used by the French psychiatrist Philippe Pinel in the early 19th century. It was later popularized by the British psychiatrist James Cowles Prichard in 1835. The term is derived from the Latin moralis meaning "proper behavior" and the Latin insanus meaning "unhealthy".
Definition
Moral Insanity was defined as a disorder of the mind which was not accompanied by any obvious intellectual impairment, but was characterized by abnormal moral or social conduct. The person suffering from Moral Insanity was believed to be incapable of feeling empathy, remorse, or guilt, and was often described as being manipulative, deceitful, and self-centered.
Related Terms
- Psychopathy: A personality disorder characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits.
- Sociopathy: A term often used interchangeably with psychopathy, but some differentiate it based on the cause (sociopathy being caused by environmental factors, psychopathy by genetic or biological factors).
- Antisocial Personality Disorder: A mental health disorder characterized by disregard for and violation of the rights of others.
Criticism and Modern Usage
The concept of Moral Insanity has been criticized for its lack of scientific basis and its potential for misuse. Today, the term is largely obsolete and has been replaced by more specific diagnoses such as Antisocial Personality Disorder and Psychopathy.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Moral insanity
- Wikipedia's article - Moral insanity
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