Encyclopedia

insanity

Also found in: Dictionary, Medical, Legal, Wikipedia.

insanity

1. relatively permanent disorder of the mind; state or condition of being insane
2. Law a defect of reason as a result of mental illness, such that a defendant does not know what he or she is doing or that it is wrong
Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

insanity

[in′san·əd·ē]
(psychology)
Any mental disorder.
In forensic psychiatry, a mental disorder which prevents one from managing one's affairs, impairs one's ability to distinguish right from wrong, or renders one harmful to oneself or others.
(psychology)
Term previously used to indicate mental disorder; no longer used in medical contexts.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Mentioned in
References in classic literature
She was arrested and arraigned for insanity. To-day she was examined by the regular insanity experts.
So far so good, but there had been no hint of insanity, nor even of nervous collapse.
Ever since he had made a close study of insanity, the good man had met with many examples of the prophetic faculty and the gift of second sight, proofs of which are frequently given by alienated minds, and which may also be found, so travellers say, among certain tribes of savages.
After minute investigation, the medical directors of the asylum decided that his mental disease did not amount to insanity, nor would warrant his confinement, especially as its influence upon his spirits was unfavorable, and might produce the evil which it was meant to remedy.
Laszlo, 42, of Grove Road, in Nuneaton, indicated he was entering his not guilty plea 'by reason of insanity'.
A WIDOW who caused a high-speed, three-car fatal pile-up on the M25 has been cleared of causing death by dangerous driving "by reason of insanity."
How to Get Away with Murder Sky Witness, 9pm Annalise (Viola Davis, left) attempts to get Nate's father a psychiatric evaluation so they can have his murder case retried under an insanity plea.
class=George Clooney, who returns to TV for the first time in 20 years with an adaptation of the classic novel "Catch-22," said on Monday the Hulu series set in World War II aims to tell a timeless story about the "insanity" of war.At a preview for reporters, Clooney said he initially resisted the idea of taking on Joseph Heller's 1961 book about a member of a US bomber squadron fighting the higher-ups in the military bureaucracy.
Joyce argues that there was no voluntary intent on his part to kill himself because at the time he committed suicide, he was out of his mind due to insanity caused by the cranial injuries in the accident inside the plant.
Albert Einstein defined insanity as repeating the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.