Intelligence and Intelligence Assessment

Question 1

What were the original purposes of psychological assessment, and how is it used today?

Answer 1

Originally, psychological assessments were developed to identify individuals with mental disorders or intellectual disabilities.
Today, they’re widely used in schools, workplaces, the military, and clinical settings to evaluate cognitive abilities, personality traits, mental health, and aptitude.

Question 2

What methods are used to assess individual differences?

Answer 2

Common methods include:

Standardized tests (e.g., IQ tests)

Surveys and questionnaires

Behavioral observations

Interviews
These help measure traits like intelligence, personality, and mental health.

Question 3

Define reliability and validity

Answer 3

Reliability refers to a test’s consistency—same results over time or across raters.

Validity refers to whether a test measures what it claims to measure.
Both are essential for a good psychological test.

Question 4

What are the major theories of individual differences, and how do they compare?

Answer 4

Trait theory: Personality is made up of stable traits (e.g., Big Five).

Psychodynamic theory: Differences arise from unconscious conflicts (Freud).

Cognitive theory: Differences are due to mental processing styles.
Each emphasizes different causes—biology, behavior, or thought.

Question 5

What is the construct of intelligence?

Answer 5

Intelligence is a broad mental capacity involving reasoning, problem-solving, learning, and adapting.
It can be general (g factor) or specific (e.g., verbal, spatial).

Question 6

What was Binet’s approach to intelligence testing?

Answer 6

Alfred Binet developed the first practical IQ test to identify children needing extra help in school.
He emphasized age-related tasks and believed intelligence could change with education and training.