Which is the best dictionary definition of insanity?

Which is the best dictionary definition of insanity?

2. law That degree of mental illness that negates the person’s legal responsibility or capacity. [L. in- neg. insanity. A legal rather than a medical term, implying a disorder of the mind of such degree as to interfere with a person’s ability to be legally responsible for his or her actions.

Is there such a thing as insanity in the DSM?

And, while it is often used to describe certain states of mind, insanity is also not a medical condition. You won’t find a diagnosis for insanity in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association.

Is there such a thing as an insanity plea?

Many people may be familiar with the legal implications of an insanity plea as portrayed in various Hollywood courtroom dramas. Carl Lee Hailey’s temporary insanity defense for shooting the two rednecks who raped his daughter in “A Time to Kill” comes to mind. In real life, insanity as a criminal defense was established in 16th-century England.

What are some facts and facts about insanity?

The straight facts about insanity are these: it has been in use in English since the late 16th century, for the first two hundred years or so carrying only the literal meaning “the condition of being mentally deranged.” In the 19th century it began to take on a looser sense, “extreme folly or unreasonableness.”

What is the plural of the word insane?

noun, plural in·san·i·ties. the condition of being insane; a derangement of the mind.

What’s the definition of insanity for the Bucs?

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky called the Bucs “the walking definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” The definition of insanity — doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result — is an apt description of the post-election punditry. Forget half-baked punditry.

See more synonyms for insanity on Thesaurus.com. noun, plural in·san·i·ties. the condition of being insane; a derangement of the mind. Law. such unsoundness of mind as frees one from legal responsibility, as for committing a crime, or as signals one’s lack of legal capacity, as for entering into a contractual agreement.

When did the term insanity first appear in print?

The first time it actually appeared in print was in a 1981 Narcotics Anonymous text ( page 11 ). The term insane is outdated parlance in the mental health community. No legitimate medical or clinical professional would be caught dead saying it in public.

How is insanity determined in a criminal case?

The person may request a trial to determine sanity. The original hearings are often routine with the psychiatric findings accepted by the judge. In criminal cases, a plea of “not guilty by reason of insanity,” will require a trial on the issue of the defendant’s insanity (or sanity) at the time the crime was committed.

Is it insanity to do the same thing over and over?

Dear Quote Investigator: It’s foolish to repeat ineffective actions. One popular formulation presents this point harshly: The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. These words are usually credited to the acclaimed genius Albert Einstein.

How does insanity play a role in horror?

Insanity Insanity plays a strong part in the elements of horror, as fear is a cloying presence that can unhinge the mind. The madness that takes hold can be a signpost of horror, as the protagonists meet twisted minds that have been broken by inhuman creatures, as well as mortal born cruelties like war and terror.

When did insanity take on a looser sense?

In the 19th century it began to take on a looser sense, “extreme folly or unreasonableness.” In modern usage, insanity may be found in both senses: you may tell your brother that trying to skateboard while holding onto a car is “insanity” (in which case you mean that it is extremely foolish) or encounter…

Is there a link between insanity and repetition?

The linkage between insanity and repetition has a long history. The controversial book “Degeneration” by Max Nordau was published in German in 1892 and translated into English by 1895. Nordau examined the works of a variety of artists and savagely attacked those that contained repetition which he believed evinced a mental defect in the creator.

Can a criminal defendant assert an insanity defense?

Criminal Insanity. Generally speaking, criminal insanity is understood as a mental defect or disease that makes it impossible for a defendant to understand their actions, or to understand that their actions are wrong. A defendant found to be criminally insane can assert an insanity defense.

Which is the best description of periodic insanity?

a form of insanity or dementia praecox that can appear at puberty, characterized by foolish behavior and deterioration of the mental faculties. an acute mania. 1. periodic insanity, once thought to be caused by the phases of the moon.