Mental Retardation

History and Terminology

Societies have always recognized differences in abilities between individuals. Throughout the ages, people have attempted to describe and name these differences. The earliest description of mental retardation was found written on ancient papyri in Thebes (1500 B.C.), but it is likely that people have been attempting to understand and name observed differences in human capabilities since the origins of civilization.

People's views toward and treatment of individuals seen as differing significantly from the norm or as having disabilities have fluctuated across the years depending on particular circumstances within a given society. Religious beliefs, cultural values, and economic conditions are some of the factors that influence a society's view of disability. There is evidence, for example, that some early societies, such as the Egyptians, highly valued children and spent much effort on nurturing and caring for them. This included children with disabilities. Other societies, such as the Greeks and Romans, respected physical prowess and practiced infanticide when children were born with a clearly distinguishable disability.

Perceptions of individuals with disabilities in more recent times have also shown great variation. At certain points in time, such as in the early 19th century, [Page 667]society in general promoted humane treatment for persons with disabilities. During that time, many professionals in Europe and the United States began to develop educational programs for individuals with mental retardation and other disabilities. When it became clear that treatment could not “cure” disability, and the economic status of the United States changed during the latter part of that same century because of the Civil War, attitudes toward persons with disabilities shifted. They became seen as burdens to society, incapable of benefiting from educational programs or contributing to their communities. Large-scale institutions where people with disabilities were segregated and that provided only minimal care became the norm at this point rather than the progressive programs seen earlier. The trend toward institutionalization continued throughout the early part of the 20th century.

...