PSYC 3850 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: American Psychiatric Association, Intellectual Disability, Strange Behaviour
Document Summary
Some developmental differences may be so subtle at one point: don"t attract attention, become more evident at another developmental time. What is considered developmental limitation by one profession at one point may not be. Perceptions of what is normal vary widely over time and b/w disciplines by another. Diverse concepts and varying characteristics have influenced different descriptions of people w/ intellectual disabilities, depending on society"s views and situational influences during any given time period. The fluidity of the concept is due to a variety of reasons: economic, social, and political climate influences of various cultures throughout history. Before 1800: having an intellectual disability not considered urgent social problem. Those w/ severed intellectual disabilities either killed or died of natural causes at an early age: drain on society and target for elimination (till recent mid-1900s, those w/ mild intellectual disabilities could function well in agrarian society.