Evening star., 1925-11-08
BY NELL RAY CLARKE.

stare are going to be the very
newest fashion in facial ex-
Il pressions. For a long time
the poker face has been the
mask of the astute politician and the
wise crook, while the wise woman
who doesn't want men to find out how
clever she is has affected the baby
stare. Now one of these expressions
is going to be adopted by everyday in
dtviduals like you and me. We've got
to do 1t for protection.
At least. we will ii Prof. Fred A.
Moss Of George Washington Cniver-
sity has anything to do with it. His
latest device is the social intelligence
test. He isn't satisfied with keeping
people awake for 20 to 100 hours just
10 see how they behave when they
are being tortured with his sleeplesS
test. but he has been devising psy-
chology tests for painters, janitorS,
senior library assistants, prison
guards firefighters, food inspectors
and automobile drivers, and now he is
turning his attention to the policemen.
BY trying out this newest psyche
logical test on the would-be patrolmen
individuals can be selected for the
force who are as sensitive to q Grim
inal as the nose of Il mouse Is to
cheese. Not only has Prof. Moss
worked out his test, but it has al
ready been used as part of the eN-
animation given in Los Angeles, Callf;
in New York State, In Camden, n. j.,
and a number of other cities to select
new men for the police and detective
forces Of those places.
Those who have passed the test can
almost tell you what you are thinking.
When some guy driving tin wagon
at the head of the procession to work
In the morning insists on cumming up
the parade and makes you late you
sit and smile blandly. as if you weren't
thinking a string of lurid epithetS. If
you don't a gum-shoe artist may camp
on your trail for week or two to
safeguard you from carrying out your
criminal thoughts.
Even If your motherin-law did
throw your pet CornCob pipe into the
furnace, you'd better not think muir
derous thoughts when you pass the
cop on the corner or you may be de-
tained in the calaboose through the
night until you have changed your
frame of mind. II you forget to stop
at street intersection in violation
of a traffic rule and have to talk
pretty to the traffic demagog to get
out of going 10 Jail. don't do the same
thing again and think he won't re
member. Not that bird Why, before
he got his Job he had to pass a psy-
chology test to find out whether he
could pick you out from the bunch of
other guys that pass that corner every
day And probably he'll be able to
tell you your name in the bargain.
= X x x
"THE primary purposes of the So
cial intelligence" according to
Prof. Moss, lis TO aid in choosing in
dtviduals for positions requiring a
special aptitude for dealing with peo-
pie, such as bank cashiers, teachers,
supervisors, detectives, policemen and
those whose major duties are the I'M
derstanding of the motives of others.
1T will help in obtaining better po-
lice personnel through suggesting
means of bringing about a better bal
ance between the physical and mental
standards to be used in selecting pa.
trolmen. 1t may also suggest methods |
of improving the mental tests now
customarily given.
LAS you know there are three types |
of intelligence generally recognized |
The first deals with the abstract idea. |
The best types of these are shown in
the Army Alpha, which was given to
100000 soldiers during the World
War, or the Shorndike college en-
trance test, which Is used for admis-
sion to the various universities. The
second deals with mechanical things
In their proper relationship. The third
Is social intelligence, or the ability
10 size up situations properly and to
get along with people. No satisfac-
tory tests have hitherto been devised
for this kind of intelligence.
Policemen are Fundamentally So
cial workers, and they must have con-
siderable knowledge of the motives
which govern people in their conduct. !
The police officer who does not know |
human nature. who cannot size up
people and situations, who cannot deal |
with people tactfully, either as indi- |
VidualS or in groups. or who cannot |
keep in mind the fact that his posi- |
tion fills not only the immediate pur-
pose of catching offenders. but also of |
restraining future lawbreaking, is sure |
to get himself as well as his depart |
ment into trouble.
I'VE believe that this new social in |
telligence test will predict so far as |
possible the ability of an individual |
TO size up a typical social situation |
and to show as reliably rs may be
how we'll an individual may get along .
in his dealings with others.
There are many persons who have |
made high college records but who |
are not succeeding in the world. Every |
town has its college graduate who is |
driving his fathers bakery wagon or |
iS IEnrl-infr n q cav Of