Intelligence

• Definitions:– Terman (1921): ability to carry on abstract

thought– Binet (1905): collection of faculties: judgment,

practical sense, initiative, ability to adapt– Wechsler (1958): aggregate capacity to act

purposefully, to think rationally, and to deal effectively with the environment

• Known by what it enables us to do• Qualitatively different abilities

– Sternberg (1986): mental activity involved in purposive adaptation

Theories of Intelligence

2 major schools of thought:1. One general factor, g

• Spearman

2. Different types of intelligence(disagreement about what those are)• Sternberg, Gardner, Thurstone

One general factor theory

• Spearman’s g– Used factor analysis– g = general mental ability– Complicated mental activities are

highest in g– Specific factors may also be included

One General Intelligence

Support for this approach:1. Positive manifold – high

correlations between different tests of cognitive ability

2. Neural processing speedi.e. speed of processing

Different factors approach to intelligence

• Thurstone:– NOT a unitary trait– Differing types of abilities:

1. Verbal2. Perceptual speed3. Inductive reasoning4. Numbers5. Rote memory6. Deductive reasoning7. Word fluency8. visualization

Alternative theories of multiple intelligences

• Gardner’s theory:– 7 different forms of intelligence

• Linguistic – use of language• Musical – rhythm, pitch• Spatial – perceiving visual world• Bodily – kinesthetic awareness, movement• Interpersonal – knowledge of others’s

moods, motivations, etc.• Intrapersonal – knowledge of self, feelings• Logic-mathematical – logical thinking,

numerical ability

Another theory of multiple intelligence

• Fluid & Crystallized intelligence (Horn)– Fluid = basic reasoning ability, ability to

learn• Nonverbal mental efficiency• Strong physiological base

– Crystallized = acquired skills and knowledge• Knowledge of general information• Influenced by education and culture

One more theory of multiple intelligences

• Sternberg: 3 dimensions of intelligence1. Analytical – internal mental mechanisms

– Mental processes– Used to learn new things– Execute behavior– Higher-order processing such as planning, monitoring, and

evaluating

2. Creative (experiential)– intelligence related to novel stimuli

– Ability to apply existing knowledge to new problems– Implication: our experiences impact our IQ. Very difficult

to compare people across sociocultural groups due to differences in experience.

3. Practical (contextual) – IQ related to external world– Ability to deal with everyday tasks– i.e. not just academic or book learning