1. Henry Goddard and the Elimination of Feeble- Mindedness If all of the slum districts of our cities were removed tomorrowwe would still have slums in a weeks time, because we have these mentally defective people who can never be taught to live otherwise1 Patrick Goldberg Florida Institute of Technology PSF 3551 Integrated Theories of Crime 2. Henry Herbert Goddard Context 1900 1910 1920 1930 Spearman publishes General Intelligence indtroducing the g factor Binet and Simon create first standardized psychometric instrument Goddard translates Binet-Simon test to English Freud publishes Introduction to Psychoanalysis Piaget publishes Judgment and Reasoning in the Child Skinner publishes The Behavior of Organisms Max de Crinis authors Hitlers Euthanasia Decree Goddard publishes The Kallikak Family Intelligence testing implemented on Ellis Island Major Events in Psychology in Goddards Time 3. First psychologist to translate the Simon- Binet test from French to English 2 Creator of one of the first curricula for students with special needs 4 Henry Herbert Goddard Biography The Good Author of the nations first law mandating education for those with special needs 3 4. Advocated for the suppression of feeble- mindedness through sterilization, among other means 5 Directly influenced controversial, Anti- Semitic intelligence tests administered at Ellis Island 5 Henry Herbert Goddard Biography The Bad Promoted eugenics (selective breeding) theories later embraced by Nazi Germany 6 5. Henry Herbert Goddard Biography The Ugly Originated the concept of a dumb Polack in his work 7 Introduced the word moron to the English language as an expansion of feeble-minded labels 7 6. The Elimination of Feeble-mindedness Goddard estimated that there were 300,000 feeble-minded individuals, comprising three convenient groups: 92 million Normal Americans 8 300 thousand Feeble-minded Americans 8 Morons Idiots Imbeciles 7. The Elimination of Feeble-mindedness 300 thousand Feeble-minded Americans 9 Idiots: Lowest group Deeply Defective Unable to guard against common physical dangers Imbeciles: Middle group Incapable of earning a living Capable of guarding against common physical dangers Morons: Highest group Capable of earning a living Incapable of competing on equal terms with others Incapable of managing affairs with prudence Features of the feeble-minded 8. The Elimination of Feeble-mindedness Idiots According to Goddard: So-called idiots were a burden from birth, nothing but a troublesome being to be pitied. Regardless of the position of the childs caretakers, an idiot child is a burden to all those with whom he or she has contact. To eliminate idiots from society, by any reasonable means, could only be seen as the responsible action to undertake for societys benefit. 9. The Elimination of Feeble-mindedness According to Goddard: So-called imbeciles are generally viewed as silly or stupid. Imbeciles should all be considered a societal menace because any imbecile could become destructive. Eliminating imbeciles would free up teachers and other resources to improve the overall performance of the remainder of society. Imbeciles 10. The Elimination of Feeble-mindedness According to Goddard: So-called morons are generally viewed as normal, but a little dull. Though capable of earning a living, the moron can not manage his or her own affairs and thus requires attendants. Eliminating morons would free up numerous resources to improve the overall performance of the remainder of society. Morons 11. The Elimination of Feeble-mindedness Societal Ills Eliminated Along with the Feeble-Minded 10: 12. The Elimination of Feeble-mindedness Proposed solutions for the elimination of feeble-mindedness 11: Cure Unlikely an option for idiots and imbeciles Possible depending on physiological underliers, such as thyroid disorders Costly, but worthwhile endeavor Prevention by segregation Sentimental in nature, but not practical Extremely costly in terms of financial resources and custodial resources Prevention by sterilization Requires identification of predictive factors that indicate a feeble-minded offspring is likely Though costly, the cost of preventing feeble- minded procreation would be far less than the cost of the feeble-minded to society 13. The Elimination of Feeble-mindedness Square indicates male. Circle indicates female. A, alcoholic (habitual drunkard). F, feeble-minded; N, normal; T, tuberculosis; Hand shows which child is in the institution for the feeble-minded Prevention by sterilization 12: By identifying precursors to feeble-mindedness, such as tuberculosis, alcoholism, or feeble-mindedness, potential procreators can be stopped before they are able to continue contaminating the gene pool 14. The Elimination of Feeble-mindedness Possible sources of inherited feeble-mindedness: 15. Though Goddards research had little direct positive impact on the study and practice of psychology, his key, lasting contribution was to the study of the connection between IQ and criminality. With Goddards work as a basis, psychologists over the next decade would continue to explore and expound upon the understanding of how quantifiable intelligence relates to and contributes to criminality. Goddards Contribution 16. Goddards Contribution Additionally, Goddard may be credited for his contribution to psychology as a polarizing lightning rod in the eugenics debate. The lack of scientific rigor in Goddards publications and his advocacy for heinous and controversial practices clearly served as a starting point for many of his critics to cement their stances through research efforts specifically designed to refute Goddards positions.