Lobotomizing Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐ง
lobotomizing
[lษหbษtษmaษชzษชล ]
Definition
medical procedure
Lobotomizing refers to the surgical procedure of lobotomy, in which certain parts of the brain's frontal lobes are severed from the rest of the brain. This procedure was historically used to treat various mental disorders but has since fallen out of favor due to ethical concerns and the development of more effective treatments.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- They considered lobotomizing patients to alleviate severe depression.
- The controversial practice of lobotomizing was widespread in the mid-20th century.
- After lobotomizing the patient, the results were often unpredictable.
Translations
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Interesting Facts
Historical Origins
- The term relates to the practice that began in the early 20th century, aiming to treat mental illnesses by altering brain functions.
- Dr. Antรณnio Egas Moniz, a Portuguese neurologist, is credited with developing the lobotomy and won a Nobel Prize for his work in 1949.
- Originally considered a breakthrough, the procedure eventually faced fierce criticism for its ethical implications and often damaging results.
Psychology
- Studies showed that lobotomizing often reduced symptoms of severe mental illness, but it frequently left patients with diminished emotional responses.
- The operation was based on the belief that mental illness originated from specific brain regions, an idea that has evolved with modern neuroscience.
- Alternative treatments for mental health, such as therapy and medication, are now preferred because they are less invasive and more effective.
Pop Culture
- Lobotomizing has been referenced in films and literature, often portraying it as a desperate and dark remedy for psychological suffering.
- In the book and film 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest', the practice is depicted as a means of controlling patients in a mental institution.
- The procedure has become a symbol of the troubling history of mental health treatments in the 20th century.
Ethics
- The practice raised serious ethical questions about consent, as many patients were not fully informed or were incapable of understanding the risks.
- Legal changes and guidelines emerged in the latter half of the 20th century to better protect the rights of individuals in psychiatric treatment.
- Lobotomizing has become a cautionary tale in the discussion of mental health treatment, emphasizing the need for ethical standards.
Origin of 'lobotomizing'
The term 'lobotomy' comes from the Greek words 'lobos', meaning 'lobe' and 'tomia', meaning 'to cut'. The procedure was first performed in the 1930s by Portuguese neurologist Antรณnio Egas Moniz, who believed that severing connections in the brain could relieve patients from severe mental illnesses. The practice gained popularity in the United States and other parts of the world, particularly in the 1940s and 1950s. However, as more was discovered about the brain and psychological treatments improved, lobotomies fell out of favor due to their often devastating side effects and ethical issues. Today, lobotomizing is viewed as a controversial and outdated procedure, overshadowed by advancements in psychology and psychiatry.