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Published on: September 27, 2020
Assessment of terms to describe mental retardation.
1Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Newark Campus, 43055, USA. panek.1@osu.edu
The term "mentally challenged" is perceived more positively than "mental retardation" or "physically disabled." This study explores preferred terminology for developmental disabilities.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Disability Studies
- Linguistics
Background:
- Ongoing debate exists regarding the terminology for intellectual disability and developmental disabilities.
- The term "mental retardation" is being re-evaluated for its appropriateness and potential replacement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess public perception of various terms used to describe intellectual disability and individuals with these conditions.
- To compare the semantic differential ratings of terms like "mental retardation," "intellectual disability," and "mentally challenged."
Main Methods:
- Employed the semantic differential technique with 284 participants from Midwestern populations.
- Participants rated terms on three factors: evaluation, activity, and potency.
- Evaluated terms describing the condition and the person, alongside terms for other disabilities.
Main Results:
- All terms were generally assessed neutrally, but "mentally challenged" emerged as the most positive.
- "Mentally challenged" received significantly more positive evaluations than "physically disabled."
- "Mentally challenged" and "visually disabled" were evaluated similarly.
Conclusions:
- The term "mentally challenged" may be a more positively perceived alternative in discussions of intellectual disability.
- Findings have implications for professional and public discourse surrounding developmental disabilities.
- Further research can explore the nuances of terminology in disability studies.

