The Snowflake herald., 1921-12-23
Average Adult Far Behind in In
teIIectuaI Development, Say
Scientists.
WOMEN ARE MOST INFANT|LE
Study of intelligence Tests Applied to
American Soldiers Showed Aver
age Intelligence Of Normal
Boy of Fourteen.

Washington.-Scient studying
here the records of the intelligence
tests applied to American soldiers,
have reached the conclusion that these
men had, on an average, the intellec-
tual development which is considered
normal for boy fourteen years old.
This does not seem very flattering to
as as a nation, but it is borne out by
Thomas A. Edison, who as is well
known, has been conducting intelli-
gence tests Of his own on men who
apply to him for employment. He ex-
presses himself as amazed at the low
average of intelligence which his tests
have revealed. He says that not more
than 2 per cent of the adult popula-
ton can understand self-eyident fact
when it is put before them.
These disturbing opinions from high
authorities are borne out in a way by
the new school of psychologists. Their
investigations tend to show that an
individual who is not given proper Op-
pOrtunity to develop his mind and per-
sonaiity does remain child in all those
respects in which his development is
retarded. They would say that the
typical American man of business,
while highly developed in his special
line, is 'fnfantile" as a whole, because
he is undevelOped in so many other
ways.
THIS view, of course, excites the an
tagonism of every good American, but
it is perhaps worth examining just for
the sake of understanding a point Of
view we cannot share.
In the first place, it is to be noted
that this view gets good deal of cor
roboration in everyday life. How often
you hear it said Of some man that she
is just a great, big overgrown boy"
That may, according to the psycholo-
gists, be scientific description of his
mind and personality.
"Grown-Up Babies"
Many women are wont to remark
that their husbands, brothers, or even
their fathers are just big boys, but
good deal of evidence can be brought
forward to show that women are, on
men. Men, in order to make a living.
have to achieve a certain degree of
maturity. They may have boyish
traits, but they cannot afford to have
the helplessness of children. Women,
on the other hand, know that an ap-
pearance of helplessness, If accom-
panied by good looks, is often a great
asset in the pursuit of husband.
Thus society encourages women to.
hold en- to any infantile traits they may
have. The "cuteness," the helpless
ness. the ignorance, which so many of
them affect, are infantile The woman
may use these tricks consciously in
pursuit of man, but the mere fact
that she uses such tricks at all is an
Indication, according to the psycholo-
giStS, that she has never become fully
adult. This prevainng infantilism of
women is widely recognized in popular
slang and popular songs, which re-
zeal far more of our folk k-psychology
than does our formal literature.
'When grown-up ladies act like
babies I've just got to love 'em. that's
all"
The women know that. And it is no
trouble at all for them to act like
babies, because most of them have not
grown mentally and morally nearly as
fast as they have grown physically,
say the scientists.
1t is not possible to summarize here
all Of the evidence which might he
brought forward to prove that the pub
lie as whole he's never grown up.
Our tastes in reading, movies and the
ater are specially significant, however.
The adult desires to understand life.
Children read fairy stories. Most of
he stories In oar magazines, nearly