Competence is a core concept of the new psychotechnology. The term is one of the central products of a psychological consulting industry that develops not only tools for assessing talent and suitability but also strategies for behavior management. This is particularly evident in the European education systems, which are introducing new testing and training techniques under the banner of competence orientation. The completely revised and expanded new edition of the book substantiates the genealogy of the competence concept with new material and increasingly focuses the argumentation on questions of education and upbringing. Competence is not an educational concept. It is the product of a radically pragmatic psychology that indiscriminately aligns personal happiness, social security, and academic and professional success with the development of individual abilities.