The Mismeasure of Man by Stephen Jay Gould
- 1. The Mismeasure of Man by Stephen Jay Gould is a critical examination of the historical and scientific underpinnings of the measurement of human intelligence, challenging the notion that intelligence can be quantified purely through metrics such as IQ tests and cranial measurements. Gould, a prominent paleontologist and evolutionary biologist, explores the biases and fallacies that have pervaded the field of intelligence testing from the 19th century onward, particularly focusing on the work of figures like Samuel George Morton and Arthur Jensen. He meticulously deconstructs the flawed methodologies and reasoning that have led to the justification of racial hierarchies and the misinterpretation of human potential. Throughout the book, Gould advocates for a more nuanced understanding of intelligence, emphasizing the role of environmental factors, the dangers of deterministic thinking, and the importance of viewing human beings as complex entities shaped by a myriad of influences rather than mere numbers on a scale. By blending history, science, and philosophy, Gould not only critiques the misapplication of measurement in academia but also calls for a more ethical and scientifically valid approach to understanding human diversity and capabilities.
Which 19th-century practice is heavily criticized in the book for its attempts to rank intelligence by skull size?
A) Trepanation
B) Craniometry
C) Bloodletting
D) Phrenology
- 2. What is the name of the intelligence test that Gould argues was misused to label immigrants as 'feeble-minded'?
A) The Rorschach test
B) The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
C) The Myers-Briggs test
D) The Stanford-Binet test
- 3. What statistical concept does Gould explain is often reified (mistaken for a real entity) in intelligence testing?
A) Statistical significance
B) g, or general intelligence
C) Standard deviation
D) The mean average
- 4. Which early 20th-century American movement was justified by the misuse of IQ tests, as discussed by Gould?
A) Prohibition
B) The Suffrage movement
C) The Labor movement
D) Eugenics
- 5. Gould argues that the theory of IQ as a single, innate entity is a form of what?
A) Cultural relativism
B) Existentialism
C) Biological determinism
D) Behaviorism
- 6. What famous legal case involving forced sterilization is discussed in the book?
A) Buck v. Bell
B) Roe v. Wade
C) Plessy v. Ferguson
D) Brown v. Board of Education
- 7. Which scientist's work on craniometry is a central focus of Gould's critique in the first edition?
A) Samuel George Morton
B) Louis Agassiz
C) Francis Galton
D) Charles Darwin
- 8. What does Gould conclude about the possibility of measuring innate intelligence?
A) It is the most important goal of psychology
B) It is only possible in adults
C) It is easily done with a simple test
D) It is not possible to separate from culture and environment
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