As per usual for a book and discussion directed at the masses from the media, the focus is not complete and balanced...but some good points are mentioned along with the bad. Some of the historical information is accurate and interesting to revisit. Of course, the hot topics of eugenics, hereitability of IQ, etc. are discussed.
New extensions of intelligence theory are mentioned...but are limited, as per usual, to Sternberg and Gardner. Nothing mentioned about the most empirically supported psychometric model - CHC theory. Some of the callers add some needed balance.
For what it is worth. An interesting snapshot of some current popular thinking. Here is the description from the radio web page.
- For most of human history, we had only words to describe human intelligence -- bright, dim, genius, fool.
- But in the last century, we've had numbers -- IQ numbers as in "intelligence quotient." IQ testing made intelligence seem measurable, and humans sortable by the numbers. And sort them we have, into schools and sterilization, and even death camps.
- Today, our understanding of intelligence has expanded. But we're still taking IQ tests. Stephen Murdoch says today it's a failed idea.
- This hour On Point: the fascinating history of our long romance with IQ.
Technorati Tags: schook psychology, psychology, educational psychology, neuropsychology, intelligence, IQ, IQ tests, IQ scores, On Point, Tom Ashbrook, Sternberg, Gardner, Stephen Murdoch
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