Psychological testing as an area has perhaps evoked more controversy and heated emotion than has any other area within the fields of psychology and counseling. Part of the reason for this has to do with the inherent complexity and difficulty of the task of assessing human abilities, emotions and achievements. But beyond this basic issue, an overlay of befuddlement has been provided by diverse ideological conflicts and resultant, largely unsuccessful attempts at resolution. As a specialized concern of the general discipline of psychology, the evolution of psychological testing is best considered within the historical context of the evolution of psychology, particularly in the United States. A brief sketch of this evolutionary development serves to illuminate the important sources of the contemporary controversy and suggests ways in which the controversy can best be resolved. (Author)