Imbecility

IMBECILLITY (Latin-physical or mental weakness), imbecility, a collective concept, insufficiency and is applied to cases of congenital or acquired in very early childhood feeble-mindedness. Imbecility occupies an intermediate position between idiocy and debility. The causes of imbecility are closely connected with all factors preventing the proper development of the central nervous system (hereditary predisposition, organic diseases of the central nervous system, contracted both during intrauterine life and in early childhood, head injuries during childbirth, etc.). The pathological-anatomical picture always indicates a series of damages and deviations in the development of the brain, both macroscopic and microscopic (Alzheimer, Spielmeyer, Vogt, and others). Often imbecility can be determined by external appearance (see illustration). The gait of the imbecile

is clumsy, movements are awkward, fine movements are particularly poorly coordinated, many superfluous, unnecessary movements are noted. The emotional-volitional sphere is characterized either by mild excitability, unmotivated affectivity, or indifferent attitude toward the surroundings, with inhibition. Speech is poorly developed, often with dysarthria, childish speech and a special vocabulary are preserved for a long time, a very limited vocabulary, inability to use it, to express one's thoughts coherently and to operate with abstract concepts. Intelligence is reduced. Instability

or absence of active attention, easy distractibility and rapid fatigue are noted. Thinking activity is carried out through concrete perceptions, logical processes associated with judgment and conclusion are almost absent. Imagination is undeveloped, observation is greatly reduced. Mechanical memory is better developed than other processes. Among imbeciles there are cases with partial talent (musical, mathematical, artistic). Imbecility is recognized by objective methods of experimental-psychological examination (Binet-Simon, Rossolimo, Sante de Sanctis). The imbecile requires special auxiliary training and education, preferably in an institution.

E. Rabinovich.