Darwin & Evolution/Intelligence Testing Lecture

review slide images from Darwin lecture

James McKeen Cattell

• eugenics

• created mental tests for psychology field (precursor to intelligence testing)

Alfred Binet

• Binet Simon Scale of Intelligence: improvement of Galton’s method, used to express a child’s intellectual age or “mental age” leading to the development of “IQ”

• believed children could grow intellectually if they received proper help and attention from school

Charles Spearman

• studied experimental psychology

• “general intelligence” → spearman’s “g”

• levels of general intelligence can predict specific abilities

• viewed intelligence as largely inherited

• embraced intelligence testing movement in the U.S

Henry Herbert Goddard

• believed in the “feeble-minded”

• IQ testing labels

• moron: 51-70 imbecile: 26-50 idiot: 0-25

• advocated to use intelligence testing in vetting immigrants to the U.S

• The Killikak Family: concluded that intelligence, sanity, and morality are all hereditary

• feeble-minded should not be able to procreate

• recommended the segregation of the feeble minded and for them to be removed from society

Lewis Terman

• believed that intellectual abilities were inherited

• “Quiz Kids” Study: concluded that gifted children often become gifted adults

Robert Yerks

• APA president

• created alpha and beta tests

• established a place in the military for psychological assessment of recruits

David Wechsler

• the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale

• Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children

• Weschler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence