IQ Tests are (Kind of) Dumb

IQ Tests are (Kind of) Dumb

From Ridiculous History by iHeartPodcasts

April 2, 2026 · 56 min

About this episode

The episode explores the origins and accuracy of IQ tests, questioning their validity and implications.

Have you ever taken an IQ test? Originally envisioned as a way to determine which French children should be locked in asylums, Alfred Binet's attempt to quantify human intelligence took the modern world by storm. Yet, as Ben, Noel and Max ask in this follow-up to lead exposure: How accurate are the IQ tests? Are they genuinely accurate, or, ironically enough... their own sort of dumb? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Hosts: Ben, Noel

Topics covered

  • IQ tests
  • intelligence
  • psychology

Keywords

  • Alfred Binet
  • human intelligence
  • lead exposure

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