Idiot Savant Blessing Or Curse - 1504 Words

Idiot Savant: blessing or curse? By: Amunhotep Stubbs Advanced Placement Psychology Mr. Cuetara June 4, 2015 Abstract According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, idiot savant is a rare condition where a person who is considered to be mentally disable, displays brilliance in a specific area. Idiot savant was first coined and discovered by Dr. J. Langdon Down in 1887. Dr. Down is best known for his description of the disorder called Down syndrome. In French, idiot savant means learned idiot. Idiot savant can be hereditary or caused by damage to the left hemisphere of the brain resulting in spectacular abilities. This paper will discuss the significance of acquired savant, autistic savant, and cases of idiot savant. Introduction The study of psychology is a relatively new but rapidly evolving field of study. One of the most studied disciplines of psychology is the study of disorders. One particular disorder that stands out is idiot savant, or savant syndrome. Dr. Down first described savant syndrome as a specific condition over 120 years ago. Idiot savant is a rare, however a spectacular phenomenon. Most researchers agree that the disorder is most widely caused by damage to the brain, particularly the left hemisphere. Savant syndrome can also be hereditary, or passed through the genes from parent to child. It has also been linked to autism but not all savants are autistic. This paper will compare and contrast idiot savant