McCarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities

a comprehensive instrument used to measure the cognitive and motor abilities of children between 2½ and 8½ years of age, comprising 18 subtests on 6 overlapping scales: Verbal, Perceptual-Performance, Quantitative, General Cognitive, Memory, and Motor. [developed in 1972 by Dorothea McCarthy (1906–1974), U.S. developmental psychologist]

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Psychology term of the day

January 31st 2025

Kretschmer typology

a controversial classification of individuals based on a “clear biological affinity” between specific physiques and specific personality tendencies. According to this classification, the short, stocky pyknic type tends to be jovial and subject to mood swings; the frail asthenic type is likely to be introversive and sensitive; the muscular athletic type is usually energetic and aggressive; and the disproportioned dysplastic type presents a combination of traits but tends toward the asthenic. These tendencies were attributed to endocrine secretions. [formulated in the 1920s by German psychiatrist Ernst Kretschmer (1888–1964)]