Mental Deficiency on Skid Row

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Abstract
The early studies of the intelligence of the homeless men found a high percentage of “feeble-mindedness.” Recent research, however, indicates there are few mentally defective on the Row and that the intelligence of the Skid Row man is fairly representative of the socio-economic group which he represents. This disagreement is compounded by the fact that the current population on the Skid Row is much older, sicker, and emotionally less stable than the original population investigated. These “differences” are only apparent if adequate allowances are made for (a) the method of calculating IQ, (b) inappropriate definition of mental deficiency, and (c) decline in abstract ability with age.