Assessment
Description
Intelligence
was believed to be inherited, and only the
stronger, healthier individuals could take
advantage of this inborn trait. Initial measures
of individuals focused on physical strength
and speed of reaction as these were linked
with intelligence. Later, cognitive processes
were also measured, leading to the development
of the Intelligence Quotient.
Following
psychomotor and cognitive assessments, measures
of social and emotional functioning were investigated.
Like intelligence, deviant (social/emotional)
behavior was thought to be inherited. Early
identification of personality differences
included: Examining family histories and personal
documents, interviews and questionnaires,
and psychoanalysis. Later, a large number
of questions were created that related to
an individual's emotional condition or social
outlook, and used to determine if one was
suffering from particular social or emotional
conditions. Response patterns from those with
problems were used as basis for predicting
similar conditions in others.
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