Mental Defectiveness (Noun)
Meaning
Retardation sufficient to fall outside the normal range of intelligence.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- Mental defectiveness in individuals can vary in severity, impacting their ability to function in society.
- Research suggests a correlation between extreme mental defectiveness and higher risks of dementia later in life.
- There has been controversy regarding laws permitting sterilization due to concerns of wrongly diagnosed mental defectiveness.
- As attitudes evolved, mental defectiveness shifted from being perceived as shameful to something society felt compelled to assist and integrate.
- Critics of intellectual assessment tests argue they cannot definitively prove or rule out inherent mental defectiveness due to bias in content and socio-economic impact.