"The Moron," Eugenical News (vol. 5), J.E.W. Wallin's clinical definition of feeble-mindedness

1880. [previous article text] [centered score] The Moron. Dr. J. E. W. Wallin discusses the moron in the Training School Bulletin, May, 1920. He concludes that the term feeble-minded should be used only in the sense of social or economic dependency due to congenital or early acquired intellectual deficiency. What other coexistent defects or anomalies may be found are secondary to the primary defect of intelligence. The degree of intelligence deficiency necessary to constitute feeble-mindedness must be such that the individual on attaining his maturity will not exceed an intelligence level of IX years. But we cannot assume that the IX year level always connotes feeble-mindedness. A IX year individual who is not subject to temperamental, emotional or volitional abnormalities may be able to support himself and live in conformity with the laws and customs of his environment. It may, however, be inadvisable to permit the persons of this degree of abnormality to marry and beget children. The terms "middle-grade morons," "high-grade morons" should be discarded, because they have been universally used as synonymous with feeble-minded individuals. The term moron should be restricted to feeble-minded individuals who do not develop beyond the VIII and IX year level. [end]