The first law providing for the permanent, involuntary institutionalization of “feeble‐minded” individuals was passed in Illinois in 1915. This bill represented the first eugenic commitment law in the United States. Focusing on the consequences of this 1915 commitment law within the context of intelligence testing, eugenics, and the progressive movement, this paper will argue that the then newly devised Binet–Simon intelligence test facilitated the definition and classification of feeble‐mindedness that validated feeble‐mindedness theory, enabled the state to legitimize the eugenic diagnosis and institutionalization of feeble‐minded individuals, and especially empowered psychologists to carve out a niche for themselves in the courtroom as “experts” when testifying as to the feeble‐mindedness of individuals.

中文翻译：

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心理学家作为法院人员的专业化：第一个机构承诺法对“有头脑的人”的后果。

1915年，伊利诺伊州通过了第一部法律，规定了“有思想的人”永久，非自愿的制度化。该法案是美国第一部优生承诺法。着眼于1915年承诺法在智力测验，优生学和进步运动的背景下的后果，本文将论证当时新设计的Binet–Simon智力测验促进了弱智的定义和分类，从而验证了弱智。心智理论使国家能够将弱智者的优生诊断和制度化合法化，尤其是授权心理学家在证明个人弱智时，在法庭上为“专家”开辟一个利基市场。