Shalvey, Aisling
(2018)
Theories
of
Mental
Degeneration
in
Ireland.
NPPSH Reflections, 2.
pp. 10-21.
ISSN 2565-6031
Abstract
This
paper
will
explore
theories
of
mental
degeneration
in
Ireland,
and
the
practical
influence
of
these
theories
on
medical
discussion
and
social
policy.
The
term
‘degeneration’
will
be
used
in
this
article
to
define
the
perceived
process
of
decline,
whil
e
‘degeneracy’
defines
the
more
general
theory
of
societal,
mental,
moral,
and
physical
decline.
This
article
will
address
these
ideas,
but
will
not
address
general
eugenic
theories,
or
the
relationship
between
eugenics
and
the
church
and
state
in
this
era
,
as
these
are
outside
the
parameters
of
this
research.
The
work
of
British
theorists,
such
as
A.
F.
Tredgold,
will
be
used
as
a
benchmark
to
define
what
is
meant
by
the
contemporary
terms
degeneration
and
amentia
.
Tredgold
notes
that
‘amentia’
can
be
cons
idered
a
lack
of
mental
development,
but
encompasses
numerous
levels
of
mental
degeneration
;
therefore,
amentia
was
used
as
an
overarching
term
for
idiocy,
feeble
mindedness,
and
imbecility
(Tredgold,
1920).
This
paper
will
also
examine
contemporary
Irish
journals
to
illustrate
how
these
theories
were
implemented
and
how
medical
professionals
and
politicians
perceived
mental
degeneration
to
have
an
effect
on
the
Irish
population.
Finally,
this
paper
will
address
the
term
degeneracy
and
what
this
problematic
term
implied
for
legislation
in
the
Irish
Free
State
(1921
–
1937).
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Keywords: |
NPPSH; Theories; Mental Degeneration; Ireland; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Arts & Humanities > Research Institutes > An Foras Feasa |
| Item ID: |
10836 |
| Depositing User: |
NPPSH Editor
|
| Date Deposited: |
05 Jun 2019 16:53 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
NPPSH Reflections |
| Publisher: |
Maynooth Academic Publishing |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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