The Evolution of Psychometrics and Attention Span

The birth of psychometrics in the 1860s marked the end of attention as a qualitative idea, transitioning towards measuring reaction times in response to stimuli. This marked a shift from the romantic notion of interpreting external stimuli as reflections of internal emotions to a more scientific approach. The development of psychometrics involved measuring reaction time and cognitive processing speed using primitive machines. This evolution in understanding attention span also led to changes in reading patterns, moving towards chunking text into smaller segments instead of linear reading. The shift from scientific inquiry for the sake of knowledge to using psychometrics for commercial purposes, such as optimizing ad placements and click-through rates, reflects a transformation towards capitalizing on attention. This transition also reflects a broader societal shift towards digital publishing and technology, leading to an inherent commodification of attention. The evolution of psychometrics and attention spans is intertwined with technological advancements and commercial interests, leading to a complex relationship between psychology, technology, and capitalism.