Do You Really Know What Is Intelligence?

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For centuries, tribe posses been problem to define intelligence. However, a universally agreed upon definition proves to stage giddy ergo far. To some, intelligence is the capability to acquire novel what's what and to adjust to neoteric event, span others regard the skills to solve complex problems being major important. Therefore, sundry contrasting theories own emerged. The four theories with the largest amount of followers are the theory of general intelligence, the theory of primary mental abilities, the multiple intelligences theory, and the triarchic theory of intelligence.

General intelligence

The oldest theory is that of British psychologist Charles Spearman, who, at the dawn of the 20th century, proposed the existence of general intelligence. He heuristic that people’s myriad on far cry IQ tests nurse to pigeonhole. In other words, somebody who published a high score on one IQ test repeatedly scored high on all other IQ tests, and vice versa. Hence, he washed-up that intelligence tests all measure one stale agent, which he called general intelligence or “g”. In addition to that, Spearman argued that each test besides measures some specific comprehension, which he termed “s " - vocabulary knowledge or mathematical skills, for ideal. However, what was of real importance to Spearman was general intelligence, which he believed to speak for the basis of all intellectual activities.

Crystallized and sap intelligence

A related theory by R. Cattell and J. Horn argues that efficient are two types of intelligence - juice intelligence ( gf ) and crystallized intelligence ( gc ). Liquor intelligence is one’s biological talent to cause and acquire unaccustomed information. On the other hand, crystallized intelligence is the set of specific knowledge and abilities that an diagnostic has acquired by learning and understanding throughout his life ( 1 ).

Primary mental abilities

In 1938 American psychologist L. Thurstone suggested, that intelligence is blase of seven independent factors, which he called primary mental abilities:

1 ) vocal comprehension;

2 ) oral fluency;

3 ) mathematical proficiency;

4 ) anamnesis;

5 ) speed of perception;

6 ) reasoning skills;

7 ) spatial visualization ( 2 ).


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Multiple intelligences

Complementary to Thurstone’s theory is that of Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner. In 1983, he proposed the existence of multiple intelligences, which are independent from each other. According to him, everybody possesses a certain combination of the following:

1 ) Linguistic intelligence;

2 ) Logical - mathematical intelligence;

3 ) Spatial intelligence;

4 ) Musical intelligence;

5 ) Bodily - kinesthetic intelligence;

6 ) Interpersonal intelligence;

7 ) Intrapersonal intelligence ( 3 ).

The Triarchic theory of intelligence

Finally, there is the Triarchic ( three - part ) theory of intelligence by R. Sternberg. According to him, there are three different types of intelligence. The first one is analytic intelligence, which is the ability to reason. It resembles the notion of general intelligence. The other component of intelligence, as defined by Sternberg, is creative intelligence or the ability to draw upon previous experience in order to solve new problems. The last part of intelligence, Sternberg argues, is practical intelligence, which reflects one’s ability to deal with everyday situations ( 4 ).

In conclusion, no unified theory of intelligence has been proposed yet. Until that happens, the debates on what intelligence really is are bound to continue.

References:

1. Jensen, Arthur R. Straight Talk About Mental Tests. New York: The Free Press, 1981. 62 - 63.

2. Intelligence. Encarta Reference Library 2003. Microsoft Corporation, 2002.

3. Armstrong, Thomas. 7 kinds of smart: identifying and developing your multiple intelligences. New York: Plume, 1999.

4. Sternberg, Robert J. How practical and creative intelligence determines success in life. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1996.


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