Extremes of IntelligenceA.P. Psychology

Chapter 9

Mental Retardation• Sub-average general mental ability

accompanied by deficiencies in adaptive skills, originating before age 18

•Adaptive skills = communication, self-care, home living, social interaction, community use and health & safety

Mental Retardation: The Facts

• 2-3% of the school-age population is diagnosed as mentally retarded

• Most are considered “mildly retarded” and will become self-supporting adults

• Over 350 organic syndromes are known to cause mental retardation

• However, a true cause is only able to be diagnosed in about 25% of cases

• Unfavorable environmental factors may be linked to MR as well

• Low socioeconomic status, marital instability, parental neglect, inadequate nutrition & medical care, lower-quality schooling

Levels of Mental Retardation

Mainstreaming• An approach to special education

•Students with special needs spend some time in “general education” classes based upon their skills

• Most of the educational day is spent in “self-contained classrooms” or “resource rooms”

•Work one-on-one with special educators in smaller sized classrooms

Inclusion

• An approach to special education•Students with special needs spend most or all of their time at school with non-disabled students

• Rejects the use of “special schools” or “segregated classrooms” for students with special needs

• Fully inclusive schools (rare) no longer differentiate between “general education” and “special education”

Mainstreaming vs. Inclusion

• Researchers, educators & parents favor mainstreaming over inclusion

•Focus on gaining some academic skills, even though modified

• Both lead to higher academic achievement, higher self-esteem & better social skills

• Politics tends to favor inclusion

• It is more of a moral stance

• Focus on social development & being allowed the same opportunities

• Both teach tolerance & understanding to the general education population

Giftedness

• Widely misunderstood•Research is heavily based upon IQ scores & has become a label for many children (2 – 5 %) with IQ scores above 140

•Current studies are showing that “giftedness” goes beyond IQ & the focus should be on individual gifts instead of something you either have or your don’t have

Stereotype vs. Reality

• Stereotype– Television & movies

often inaccurately portray gifted children•Nerds•Misfits•Weak•Sickly•Socially inept•Bookworms•Emotionally

troubled

• Reality– Study by Lewis

Terman (1921)•Above average

height, weight, strength & physical health

• Emotionally stable

•High social maturity

•Above average mental health

Some Discrepancies

• Ellen Winner (1997)•Differentiates between moderately gifted children (IQ 130-150) and profoundly gifted children (IQ above 180)

»Asserts that profoundly gifted children are often introverted and socially isolated

»According to her research, incidence of interpersonal & emotional problems are twice as high in profoundly gifted children as in other groups