Measuring Human Intelligence 



overcoming mental weakness. More- 

 over, we are compelled to conclude 

 that this is actually the situation be- 

 cause of what we know of the nature of 

 intelligence. This comes from the fact 

 that these conditions we are discussing 

 are definitely determined by a physical 

 condition which is, to a high degree 

 unchangeable. 



"The study of feeblemindedness 

 has confirmed our belief that intelli- 

 gence is a matter of brain cells, and 

 neuron patterns, and still more defi- 

 nitely, it is a question of the de\'elop- 

 ment of the larger association areas of 

 the brain the functioning of which 

 develops relatively late, and hence this 

 development is particularly liable to 

 arrest; moreover, when such arrest has 

 taken place, there is no evidence that 

 it ever starts up again. This means 

 of course, that once a person's mental 

 level is determined, there is no known 

 method of changing it." 



GREAT NUMBER OF MISFITS 



In the light of this doctrine, 

 "it is easy to see why human society 

 is relatively inefficient. Knowing noth- 

 ing of mental levels beyond a crude 

 appreciation of the fact that some men 

 are certainly more intelligent than 

 others, we have made no serious 

 attempt to fit the man to the job." 



"When one contemplates the enor- 

 mous proportion of misfits that must 

 exist in the industrial world and that 

 such misfits mean discontent and un- 

 happiness for the employee, one can 

 but wonder how much of the present 

 unrest in such circles is due to this fact. 

 A man is doing work that is well within 

 the capacity of his intelligence and 

 yet that calls forth all his ability 

 is apt to be happy and contented and 

 it is very difficult to disturb any 

 such person by any kind of agitation." 



One of the most serious phases of 

 the problem concerns the lowest 10%. 

 These make up the delinquents. 



"A delinquent is literally one who 

 has been left behind." He is "the 

 one who does not come up to the mark 

 in the performance of those duties 

 which the group has placed upon e\'ery 



member." Hence he is a tremendous 

 drag on the efficiency of the group. 

 The recognition of the doctrine of 

 mental levels will make it much easier 

 to deal with these, and preventive 

 methods that can be rationally applied 

 may be counted on greatly to cut 

 down the cost of caring for the 

 feebleminded. 



CAN THERE BE A DEMOCRACY? 



But looking at the larger problem, 

 what about democracy itself? Can we 

 hope to have a successful democracy 

 where the average mentality is 13? 



There are, as was pointed out 

 at the beginning of this review, 

 thirty million above the average, and 

 4,500,000 of very superior intelligence. 

 "Obviously there are enough people 

 of high intelligence to guide the Ship 

 of State, if they are put in command. 



"The disturbing fear is that the 

 masses— the 70,000,000 or the 

 86,000,000— will take matters in their 

 own hands. The fact is, matters are 

 already in their hands and have been 

 since the adoption of the Constitution. 

 But it is equally true that the 

 86,000,000 are in the hands of the 

 14,000,000 or the 4,000,000. Provided 

 always that the 4,000,000 apply their 

 very superior intelligence to the 

 practical problem of social welfare and 

 efficiency. 



"Lower intelligence will invariably 

 and inevitably seek and follow the 

 advice of higher intelligence so long 

 as it has confidence in the individuals 

 having the higher intelligence. That 

 is a proposition so invariable as to 

 be recognized as a law of human 

 nature. . . Whenever the 4,000,000 

 choose to de^■ote their superior intelli- 

 gence to understanding the lower 

 mental levels and to the problem of 

 the comfort and happiness of the 

 other 96,000,000 they will be elected 

 the rulers of the realm and then 

 will come perfect government — 

 Aristocracy in Democracy." 



In passing. Dr. Goddard suggests 

 that the feebleminded ought not to 

 be allowed to vote. He then considers 

 the equalitarian ideas that lead to 



