What’s the comprehensive history of IQ testing? I know they’ve been around for over a century, but how did we get from the first tests to the sophisticated assessments we have today? What were the major milestones and controversies along the way?
It started with Binet in 1905 trying to help struggling students in France, then got adapted by Americans like Terman who turned it into the Stanford-Binet for ranking people. The purpose shifted dramatically from the original intent.
IQ testing began in 1905 when Alfred Binet created the first test to identify French students needing educational support. Lewis Terman adapted it into the Stanford-Binet in 1916 and shifted its purpose toward ranking intelligence. The Army Alpha and Beta tests in WWI brought mass IQ testing to America. The mid-20th century saw IQ testing used to justify eugenics, immigration restrictions, and racial hierarchies, creating lasting controversy. David Wechsler developed the WAIS in 1955, focusing on multiple cognitive domains. The 1970s-80s brought fierce criticism from books like “The Mismeasure of Man.” Modern era starting in the 1990s saw rehabilitation through better methodology, cognitive neuroscience integration, and the CHC theory. Today’s tests like WAIS-IV are sophisticated psychometric instruments, though debates about bias and appropriate use continue.