The Mismeasure Of Man

The measurement of intelligence on the body, first devised as a measurement of the cranial cavity, makes perfect sense at first though. The collection of skulls and the use of mustard seeds, and, later, BB shot, is a process that requires systematic adherence to procedure. A symbol of both primitive and modern man, skulls embodied the clarity of measurement that held strong attraction for polygenist scientists in the 19th century. Today, the image of non-uniform mustard seeds being tightly packed or loosely shaken, or of BB shot measured in graduated cylinders, offers a different symbolism—that of a white, male hegemony establishing their particular vision of lived and imagined reality.

The IQ test is another supposed symbol of objectivity, a test that cleanly and clearly measures intelligence. What is lost in the translation of the tests is cultural variability, institutional knowledge, and test-taking knowledge. And yet, with all its inherent problems, intelligence tests still manage to measure a range of ability, and they still give some indication of what individuals are capable of understanding. Modern society still tests for intelligence, and the tests’ endurance speaks to the human desire to understand where individuals lie in comparison to one another.