The professionalization of psychologists as court personnel: Consequences of the first institutional commitment law for the “feebleminded”

Abstract

The first law providing for the permanent, involuntary institutionalization of “feeble‐minded” individuals was passed in Illinois in 1915. This bill represented the first eugenic commitment law in the United States. Focusing on the consequences of this 1915 commitment law within the context of intelligence testing, eugenics, and the progressive movement, this paper will argue that the then newly devised Binet–Simon intelligence test facilitated the definition and classification of feeble‐mindedness that validated feeble‐mindedness theory, enabled the state to legitimize the eugenic diagnosis and institutionalization of feeble‐minded individuals, and especially empowered psychologists to carve out a niche for themselves in the courtroom as “experts” when testifying as to the feeble‐mindedness of individuals.

Mental age and intellectual disability: Psychologists' perspectives on the use of the term ‘mental age’ as it relates to adults with an intellectual disability

“…The early 20th century state-sponsored social reform policies, that led to institutionalisation of those they identified as 'feeble minded' and in particular of females, were legitimised through the use of the science of intelligence testing and mental age. Psychologists found themselves in a new role as expert witnesses, contributing to and influencing institutionalisation decision-making in court proceedings (Farreras, 2019). Intelligence testing and mental age, as reported by psychologists in their evidence, provided a scientific grounding for decision-making on institutionalisation.…”