Genetic Characteristics of the Perceptual Structurization of the Feebleminded Individual

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University N.B. pages 57, 69/70, 126/127, 157 mistypedDespite a century of scientific study of feeblemindedness, the leading workers in the field are still wondering with what they have been and are dealing. Part of the difficulty is due to an absence of any detailed theory regarding intelligence and particularly a theory that would demonstrate the relationship of intelligence to the overall adjustments of people perceptually, conceptually, and emotionally. Werner has attempted to supply some hypotheses to guide a more systematic kind of observation and research on feeblemindedness. Certain of these hypotheses supply the background for the study reported here, i.e., those hypotheses which center on the relationship between intelligence and perceptual adjustment and functioning and deal specifically with the genetic changes in perceptual activity is these are accelerated or retarded by the intelligence variable. The hypotheses advanced by this study ares that at a given mental age feebleminded individuals would show a level of functioning generally below that of normal individuals; further, that the adult feebleminded would indicate a level of functioning generally below that of the adolescent feebleminded individuals. It is also proposed that their functioning should be understandable in terms of the various developmental stages proposed by Werner. The Rorschach inkblot test was employed since it appeared well suited to collect perceptual data and it allows the testing of a wide range of age groups with the same material. To test the hypotheses, the Rorschach protocols of thirty normal adults, thirty adult defectives, thirty adelescent defectives, and one hundred and thirty seven children divided into six year levels frem three to ten were obtained. The median mental age of the eight year olds is closest to that of both defective groups, and thus they represent the normal group against whom the hypotheses are tested. The material was analyzed by use of a scoring schema developed by Friedman, operationally designed to reflect the structural aspects of perceptual activity in their genetically law and genetically high qualities. [TRUNCATED