Criminology and the IQ Testing Era Slides Handouts

The IQ Testing Era

• Origin of IQ Testing: Initiated in France by Alfred Binet. IQ is calculated as (Chronological Age / Mental Age) * 100, with an average IQ score of 100. Binet believed IQ scores could change.

• H. H. Goddard's Influence: Used IQ tests in the U.S. for deportation and sterilization of low-IQ individuals, arguing IQ scores are static. Coined “feeble-mindedness” and categorized intelligence into morons (highest), imbeciles, and idiots (lowest).

• Goddard's Views and Revisions: Viewed morons as a threat, advocated deportations, and later acknowledged the lack of scientific support for his policies. Reduced the threshold for feeble-mindedness and admitted intelligence could improve.

• Reexamining Intelligence: Hirschi and Hindelang's 1970s study found significant effects of IQ on delinquency, with delinquents having IQs about 10 points lower than noncriminals.