Charles Darwin, an English naturalist scientist laid the foundation for the world of an Evolutionary theoretical concept.

Darwin realized and demonstrated that all species of life have evolved over time from common ancestors through the process he called natural selection. The fact that evolution occurs became accepted by the scientific community and the general public in his lifetime, while his theory of natural selection came to be widely seen as the primary explanation of the process of evolution in the 1930s, and now forms the basis of modern evolutionary theory. In modified form, Darwins scientific discovery remains the foundation of biology, as it provides a unifying logical explanation for the diversity of life. Darwins theory of evolution proposes firstly that certain species variation over a period of time result from chances and not by the adaptive efforts of animals. Secondly, he proposed that the development of life from non-life and stresses a purely naturalistic descent with modification, that is complex creatures evolve from more simplistic ancestors naturally over time. In essence, as random genetic mutations occur within an organisms genetic code, the beneficial mutations are preserved because they aid survival skills, a process known as natural selection. These beneficial mutations are passed on to the next generation and over time accumulate and the result is an entirely different organism. Other evidence gathered by Charles Darwin proved that all member of a particular species are not quite identical but show variability along an anatomical, behavioural and physiological perspective. Darwin concluded that in the same species some members are better able to adapt than others and as a result are more likely to produce more offspring, who will in turn reproduce. This adaptation occurs through a combination of successive,

small random changes in traits and natural selection of those variants best suited for the environment. Evidential implications of Darwins evolution by natural selection for psychology were addressed in two outstanding works in two of his books entitled The Descent of Man (1971) and the Expression of the Emotion in Man and Animal (1872). Darwin argued that humans and other species share a remote common ancestor. This idea implied that each species has specialization adapted to its own way of life, but also that all vertebrate species have many basic features in common. It further implies that nonhuman animals should exhibit varying degrees of human characteristics, including intelligence. As a result of these major contributions it inspired and paved the way for Francis Galtons (1822-1911) major evolutionary contribution and ideas of what is known as Eugenic or the Eugenic Movement. Francis Galton, a cousin of Darwin was among the first to try to measure intelligence and to question whether intellectual variations were based on heredity. The term eugenic basically referred to the science which deals with al influences that improve the inborn qualities of a race, also with those that develop them to the utmost advantage. Galton formulated these ideas and practices in accordance with the

knowledge that he gained from the evolutionary concept of man and animals provided by his cousin Darwin during the 1860s and 1870s. Modern eugenics, on the other hand, is based on then notion that careful planning through proper breeding is the key to bettering society. In the early 1900s, at the birth of modern genetics, the undercurrents of interest in improving the human race were transformed into an institutional movement, now known

as the eugenic movement. This referred to human selective reproduction with intent to create children with desirable traits, generally through the approach of influencing differential birth rates. These policies were mostly divided into two categories; positive eugenics, that is the increased reproduction of those seen to have advantages hereditary; and negative eugenics, which is the concept of the discouragement of procreating by those with traits perceived by the poor. Other works of Galton examines the inheritance of mental abilities with the goal of racial improvement to assess human abilities. His systematical studies vary from mental activities that ranged from motor behaviour to mental imagery. These tests were basically designed to measure individuals achievements on mental exercise. In addition to that Galton also argued on the beneficial aspects of the belief in the attainment of human progress through the evolutionary theory and later on he devised a variety of apparatus to measure characteristics as olfactory discriminative and space perception. During the 20th century, the eugenic movement took a different turn and it was not seen as merely an academic exercise. Researchers became interested in the idea that mental illness could run in families and conducted a series of studies to document the heritability of mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression.. The findings were used by the eugenic movement as proof for its cause. In the U.S, it exerted considerable influence on popular opinion and was reflected in some state and federal legislation. As a result state laws were passed between 1911-1930 aimed at various social misfits who are designated under the mentally retarded, criminals, and the insane. In addition, laws were passed restricting marriage between members of various racial groups.

In 1925 Eugenicists were beginning to be severely criticized for what was seen as their racial bias with the use of evidence. By the mid 20th century all the eugenics laws was abolished and had been in disrepute ever since. As a result of this eugenic movement it has impacted greatly in the advancement of a variety of psychological development in todays society with the aid of intelligence testing in an effort to analyzing behaviour in a more positive light. This idea of testing intelligence became popular in the United States and other western countries. Psychologists, inspired by the popularity of intelligence tests, later developed tests of personality, interest, and other psychological characteristics in an effort to measure human intelligences and a great deal of research has been done henceforth to try to make tests of intelligence fair and accurate.