The French physician Jean Marc Gaspard Itard intervened with Victor because
A) he was superstitious about Bastille Day.
B) he was required to do so by the French government.
C) he wanted to prove that mental retardation was not open to environmental modification.
D) he was searching for a cure for mutism.
E) he believed that Victor was mentally retarded and could be humanized by appropriate environmental conditions.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Jean Marc Gaspard Itard intervened with Victor, the "Wild Boy of Aveyron," because he believed that despite Victor's apparent mental retardation and feral state, he could be educated and humanized through exposure to a nurturing environment and structured education. Itard's work with Victor is considered one of the first attempts at special education and reflects early beliefs in the potential for environmental conditions to influence development and learning in individuals with disabilities.

The French Physician Jean Marc Gaspard Itard Intervened with Victor