What’s the history of IQ testing? I know they’ve been around for a long time, but when did they start and how have they evolved? Were they always used the way they are today, or has the purpose changed over time?
Binet created the first test in 1905 France to identify students who needed educational help. The original purpose was compassionate, meant to provide support rather than rank people.
IQ testing started in 1905 when Alfred Binet developed a test to identify French children needing extra academic support. When it came to America, Lewis Terman adapted it into the Stanford-Binet in 1916 and the purpose shifted dramatically toward ranking intelligence. WWI brought mass testing with Army Alpha and Beta. The mid-20th century saw IQ tests misused to justify eugenics, immigration restrictions, and racial hierarchies, creating lasting damage and controversy. Wechsler developed the WAIS in 1955 with multiple cognitive domains. The field faced intense criticism in the 1970s-80s but has been rehabilitating since the 1990s through better methodology, neuroscience integration, and psychometric advances. Modern tests are far more sophisticated, though debates about appropriate use continue.
IQ tests were originally about helping people. Then they were about ranking people. Then they were about controlling people. Now they’re mostly used for online quizzes that tell you you’re in the 99th percentile. Progress.
The test itself was fine. It measured some things reasonably well. The problem was handing it to people who had already decided what answers they wanted and then giving those people government authority. As origin stories go, it’s a useful reminder that a ruler is just a ruler until someone decides to use it to draw borders.