A Timeline of Psychological Testing these philosophers, Rene Descartes, proposes

 2200 B.C.E. Proficiency testing begins in the mind-body question.

China. The Emperor evaluates public officials  1823 A.D. The Journal of Phrenology is
every third year. founded to further the study of human
 1800 B.C.E. Babylonians develop abilities and human talents. Although proven
astrology in order to interact with the gods unfounded by experimentation, phrenology
and predict the future. Greeks later redefine proposed that human qualities are localized in
astrology to predict and describe personality. concentrations of brain fiber that press
 500 B.C.E. Pythagoras begins practicing outward on the skull.
physiognomy to evaluate personality.  1869 A.D. Sir Francis Galton publishes a
 400 B.C.E. Hippocrates introduces study of heredity and genius which pioneered
Humorology to the field of medicine for the a statistical technique that Karl Pearson would
treatment of physical and mental illness. later call correlation.
 400 B.C.E. Plato suggests people should  1879 A.D. In Leipzig, Germany, Wilhelm
find employment that is consistent with their Wundt founds the first experimental
abilities. psychology laboratory.
 175 B.C.E. Claudius Galenus designs Wundt’s structuralism relies heavily on a tool
experiments to show that it is the brain and of assessment called introspection whereby
the not the heart that is the seat of intellect. subjects try to describe their conscious
 500 A.D. With the start of the Middle experience of a stimulus.
Ages, science takes a backseat to faith and  1895 A.D. American psychologist James
superstition and the history of psychological McKeen Cattell helped launch the beginning of
testing is temporarily halted. mental testing. Cattell eventually
 1200 A.D. Interest in individual founds Psychological Corporation, a company
differences emerges as people begin to with the goal of “useful applications of
question whether those in “league with satan” psychology.”
did so voluntarily or involuntarily. Trials for  1900 A.D. Sigmund Freud
witchery and sorcery were common. publishes The Interpretation of Dreams which
 1265 A.D. Thomas Acquinas asserts that goes on to influence approaches to
the notion of the human immortal soul should understanding personality for the next 50
be replaced by the notion of a human years.
capacity to think and reason.  1905 A.D. Alfred Binet and Theodore
 1550 A.D. The Renaissance witnesses a Simon publish a 30-item scale of intelligence
rebirth in philosophy and an appreciation for designed to help classify schoolchildren in
science. Paris schools. The development of the Binet-
 1698 A.D. Juan Huarte publishes The Simon Intelligence Scale is largely recognized
Tyral of Wits, the first book to propose a as launching a new era in measurement.
discipline of assessment.  1908 A.D. Frank Parsons opens the
 1770 A.D. The cause of philosophy and Vocational Bureau of Boston begins offering
sciences advances with the writings of French, career guidance to young adults.
German, and English philosophers. One of
 1914 A.D. World War I brings about a  1962 A.D. Katherine Briggs and Isabel
boom in psychological testing as thousands of Briggs Meyers publish the Meyers Briggs Type
American recruits are screened for intellectual Indicator (MBTI).
and emotional functioning.  1962 A.D. Warren T. Norman publishes
 1919 A.D. Robert Woodworth publishes his first article over the Big Five Personality
the Personal Data Sheet to help identify Army Factors.
recruits susceptible to ‘shell shock.’  1970 A.D. John L. Holland publishes the
 1921 A.D. Swiss psychiatrist Hermann first version of the Self Directed Search (SDS)
Rorschach publishes his famous for consumer use. The inventory was
monograph, Psychodiagnostics, which would intended to help individuals identify careers
lead to the development of the Rorschach that are congruent with their personalities.
Inkblot Test.
 1926 A.D. The Scholastic Aptitude Test
(SAT) is developed and administered for the
first time.
 1927 A.D. Carl Spearman publishes a
two-factor theory of intelligence in which he
postulates the existence of a general
intellectual ability factor and specific
components of that general ability.
 1938 A.D. Mental tests have reached the
status of big business. According to the 1938
Mental Measurements Yearbook, at least
4,000 psychological tests are in print.
 1939 A.D. David Wechsler introduces the
Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale which
was designed to measure adult intelligence.
Today, multiple versions of these tests are in
publication and are the most popular
instruments used to measure the intelligence
of children and adults.
 1943 A.D. Minnesota Multiphasic
Personality Inventory was published.
 1949 A.D. The first version to the
Wechsler Intelligence Tests for children was
published.
 1949 A.D. The 16PF Questionnaire, 1st
Edition is released for public use.
 1955 A.D. The first version of the
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Tests was
published.