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Cognitive psychology and mental handicap
1MRC Developmental Psychology Project, Institute of Education, London, England.
Journal of Mental Deficiency Research
|December 1, 1987
Summary
Exploring the psychology of mental handicap reveals limitations in psychometric and experimental approaches. Integrating neuropathology with experimental psychology could redefine intelligence and cognitive function concepts.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuropathology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- The study of mental handicap has been shaped by psychometric measurement (Binet) and experimental psychology (Wundt).
- Psychometric approaches offer limited explanatory power for mental handicap.
- Experimental psychology lacks strong links to the neuropathology of mental handicap.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the historical influences on the psychology of mental handicap.
- To identify the limitations of current psychological traditions in understanding mental handicap.
- To propose a new framework integrating experimental psychology and neuropathology.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of psychometric and experimental psychology traditions.
- Analysis of the alignment between psychological methods and neuropathological findings.
- Conceptual integration of different scientific approaches.
Main Results:
- Psychometric measurement lacks explanatory depth for mental handicap.
- Experimental psychology is not adequately aligned with neuropathological understanding.
- A gap exists in connecting cognitive functions to their neuropathological basis.
Conclusions:
- Reframing concepts of intelligence, cognitive functions, and handicaps is necessary.
- A closer association between experimental psychology and neuropathology is proposed.
- This integration may offer a more comprehensive understanding of mental handicap.