Deficiency and Delinquency : An Interpretation of Mental Testing (Classic Reprint)

Bringing objective testing into the heart of delinquency and deficiency debates—this study presents a clear, conservative view of how mental testing relates to delinquent behavior and which results can be trusted in practical social work.

Grounded in decades of data and focused on the Binet scale, the book analyzes how many delinquents show signs of deficient intellect and how these findings can guide diagnosis and policy. It also compares the Binet results with other methods to check reliability and outlines the limits of tests when used alone. The work includes concrete data from Minneapolis and other groups, offering a careful look at how testing informs both diagnosis and intervention.

• How tested deficiency is defined and estimated without overstating the numbers


• How the Binet scale complements other assessments for a fuller picture


• Practical ideas for using test results to guide treatment and prevention


• Context on the relationship between deficiency and delinquency, supported by data

Ideal for readers of behavioral science, social work, and juvenile justice who want a measured, data‑driven view of how mental testing intersects with delinquency.