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History of Intellectual Disabilities

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Handbook of Intellectual Disabilities

Part of the book series: Autism and Child Psychopathology Series ((ACPS))

Abstract

The field of intellectual disability (ID) traces its history back to early Egyptian, Greek, and Roman societies. Civilizations around the world interpret mental illness, specifically ID, in a variety of ways. Beliefs regarding ID are influenced by the current stigmas, society’s understanding of mental health, and the conceptualization of the cause of ID. Furthermore, the terminology used to identify individuals with ID has paralleled the societal climate of the era. To understand the current literature and perceptions of ID, it is important to first review the history of conceptualization, terminology, research, treatment, legislation, and beliefs in this area. In the following chapter, we provide a timeline to help outline the following information presented in this chapter; however, this highlights the most important aspects of history and does not exhaust ID in its entirety. As societies across history attempted to conceptualize ID, progress toward modern thinking has been nonlinear and often includes periods of backward regression due to the religious, political, or social beliefs of the time. Advocacy groups helped propel this movement forward as they disseminated information on ID and advocated for the rights of individuals with disabilities.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Emily A. Roth & Shivali N. Sarawgi

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Jill C. Fodstad

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  1. Emily A. Roth
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  2. Shivali N. Sarawgi
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  3. Jill C. Fodstad
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Correspondence to Jill C. Fodstad .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

    Johnny L. Matson

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Roth, E.A., Sarawgi, S.N., Fodstad, J.C. (2019). History of Intellectual Disabilities. In: Matson, J.L. (eds) Handbook of Intellectual Disabilities. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20843-1_1

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