University:
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Course:
PSYC 1101 | General Psychology
Academic year:

2021
Views:

467

Pages:

1
Author:

Alma Stephenson

INTELLIGENCE TESTS  Alfred Binet created an intelligence test to identify which children needed special attention in schools. He came up with the concept of mental age, an idea that supposes intelligence increases as one gets older.  Louis Lerman created a measure we call IQ with a test known as the Stanford-Binet IQ Test. Dividing the persons mental age by their chronological age and multiplying it by 100 compute a person’s IQ. He also assigned all adults an arbitrary age of 20.  David Wechsler created three intelligence tests, the Wechsler Adult intelligence scale, Wechsler intelligence scale for children(6-16), and the Wechsler preschool and primary scale of intelligence(4-5). These tests yield IQ scores based on what is known as a deviation IQ. The tests are standardized so the mean is 100 and the standard deviation is 15 The Stanford-Binet IQ test yields a single IQ score while the WAIS has eleven subscales that measure different areas of intelligence. BIAS IN TESTING Much discussion has centered on whether widely used IQ tests are biased toward certain people groups or sexes. NATURE VERSUS NURTURE: INTELLIGENCE A lot of research has been put into weather intelligence comes from genetics or from the environment one is surrounded by. Many researchers have studied this issue and some of the findings are presented below:  Performances on intelligence tests have been steadily increasing throughout the century, a finding known as the Flynn effect. This suggests that environmental factors play a role in intelligence.  Identical twins score more similarly on intelligence tests than fraternal twins, suggesting that intelligence may come from genes.  Identical twins separated at birth also have strong correlations in intelligence but this may be because they were placed into similar environments.  It has shown that African-Americans tend to score 10-15 points lower than do the whites but this has been argued to be caused by greater poverty level in those populations rather than genetics. Chapter 12: Abnormal Psychology DEFINING ABNORMALITY Common characteristics of abnormality include:  It is harmful and/or disturbing to the individual.  It is disturbing to others.  It is unusual in a population.  It is irrational; it does not make sense to the average person. The word insane is not a medical term. Psychologists use the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to determine weather or not an individual has a psychological disorder. The latest edition is the DSM-IV-TR. It does not have any causes or treatments for disorders. A psychologist assesses the client on the following 5 axes:  Axis 1 – Clinical Disorders: It is generally what we think as the client’s major diagnosis. Examples include depression, anxiety, and paranoid schizophrenia.  Axis 2 – Personality and Developmental Disorders: Maladaptive, long-term ways a person has of interacting with the world. Most developmental disorders emerge during childhood. Examples include antisocial disorders, mental retardation, and autism.  Axis 3 – Medical Conditions: It is clear that physical and mental health are related so psychologists note any physical ailments that could impact a person’s psychological well-being.