Whatever the scientific uses to which it was put, "defective" certainly implies a lack vis-a-vis "normal" people. Science is of course far from immune to enshrining the assumptions of its practitioners in its vocabulary.
However, what surprised me here is that, even though the term is negative the attitude being expressed isn't. It's the mismatch between the two that struck me.
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Date: 2009-09-14 11:19 am (UTC)However, what surprised me here is that, even though the term is negative the attitude being expressed isn't. It's the mismatch between the two that struck me.