SOCI 136F Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Agnews Developmental Center, Nazi Eugenics, Dementia
Document Summary
Sterilization was not done in name of eugenics, but as a therapeutic intervention to alleviate individual suffering. Superintendent margaret smyth was proud that her institutions helped inspire nazi eugenics movement. Ster. in clinical practice: even at stockton though, eugenics was not only justification for using ster. For women, ster. had a positive social and psychological outcome, but for men, ster. had positive biological effect: ster. in men. Attitude based on steinach"s work with rats and guinea pigs in 1910"s, who claimed that ster. brought new life to aging animal and rejuvenated humans" mind/body. Psychiatrists thought vasectomy could have same effect in mental patients. Studies of dementia praecox patients showed testicle abnormalities that made procreation impossible anyways (matched appearance of elderly testicles) Since vasectomy worked in elderly, thought it would also benefit dementia patients. Eugenics criticized these claims, saying that ster. was supposed to cure society, not individuals.
