The Foundation first utilized Psychological Stability Tests in the 1960s. The data gathered from these initial tests played a crucial role in identifying potential habitat residents.
The PSTs were initially inserted into magazines, popular at the time, mainly aimed towards those who identified as women. They were presented as quizzes with names similar to ‟How compatible are you and your mate?” While a quiz could be completed within the magazine, incentives were offered to send it to a specific company and receive a fuller explanation. Additional incentives in the form of small monetary amounts were also provided.
True to their word, the Foundation hired experts to analyze the data and refer those who met the criteria for further background checks. Every person who sent in their quiz received what they were promised; some received even more, a follow-up questionnaire with an even more significant incentive.
By the early 2000s (approximately 24 years before the catastrophe), the world was becoming connected in a way that facilitated data mining. The Foundation decided to take advantage of that and began finding the people they chose directly, only then reaching out with a questionnaire and an incentive.
PSTs were designed to identify the major psychological traits that the Foundation wished to avoid: demagogues, highly conflict-oriented personalities, and those with authoritarian tendencies, both as leaders and followers. The Foundation would accept almost anyone else, ensuring an inclusive approach, but it tended to favor those who demonstrated critical thinking skills, empathy, and an ability to deal with reality.