Moral insanity

Moral insanity referred to a type of mental disorder consisting of abnormal emotions and behaviours in the apparent absence of intellectual impairments, delusions or hallucinations. It was an accepted diagnosis in Europe and America through the second half of the 19th century. The term 'moral', at that time and taken originally from French, could mean emotional rather than necessarily referring to ethics.

Moral insanity

Moral insanity referred to a type of mental disorder consisting of abnormal emotions and behaviours in the apparent absence of intellectual impairments, delusions or hallucinations. It was an accepted diagnosis in Europe and America through the second half of the 19th century. The term 'moral', at that time and taken originally from French, could mean emotional rather than necessarily referring to ethics.