Theories of intelligence

Spearmans General intelligence

Intelligence, also known as g factor, refers to a general mental ability that, according to Spearman,
underlies multiple specific skills, including verbal, spatial, numerical and mechanical.

Charles Spearman, an English psychologist, established the two-factor theory of intelligence back in
1904 (Spearman, 1904). To arrive at this theory, Spearman used a technique known as factor analysis.

Factor analysis is a procedure through which the correlation of related variables are evaluated to find an
underlying factor that explains this correlation.

In the case of intelligence, Spearman noticed that those who did well in one area of intelligence tests
(for example, mathematics), also did well in other areas (such as distinguishing pitch; Kalat, 2014).

In other words, there was a strong correlation between performing well in math and music, and
Spearman then attributed this relationship to a central factor, that of general intelligence (g).

Spearman concluded that there is a single g-factor which represents an individual’s general intelligence
across multiple abilities, and that a second factor, s, refers to an individual’s specific ability in one
particular area (Spearman, as cited in Thomson, 1947).

Thurstones primary mental abilities

Thurstone (1938) challenged the concept of a g-factor. After analyzing data from 56 different tests of
mental abilities, he identified a number of primary mental abilities that comprise intelligence, as
opposed to one general factor.

The seven primary mental abilities in Thurstone’s model are verbal comprehension, verbal fluency,
number facility, spatial visualization, perceptual speed, memory, and inductive reasoning (Thurstone, as
cited in Sternberg, 2003).
Although Thurstone did not reject Spearman’s idea of general intelligence altogether, he instead
theorized that intelligence consists of both general ability and a number of specific abilities, paving the
way for future research that examined the different forms of intelligence.

Gardeners multiple intelligences

Following the work of Thurstone, American psychologist Howard Gardner built off the idea that there
are multiple forms of intelligence.

He proposed that there Is no single intelligence, but rather distinct, independent multiple intelligences
exist, each representing unique skills and talents relevant to a certain category.

Gardner (1983, 1987) initially proposed seven multiple intelligences: linguistic, logical-mathematical,
spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal, and he has since added naturalist
intelligence.

Gardner holds that most activities (such as dancing) will involve a combination of these multiple
intelligences (such as spatial and bodily-kinesthetic intelligences). He also suggests that these multiple
intelligences can help us understand concepts beyond intelligence, such as creativity and leadership.

Naturalistic Intelligence

Having A Strong Connection With The Outside World And The Ability To Categorize Objects In Nature.

Musical Intelligence

Having The Ability To Recognize And Produce Sound, Rhythm, Pitch And Timbre.

Logical-Mathematical Intelligence

The Ability To Think Conceptually And Use Deductive Reasoning To Identify Logical Patterns Or Concepts.

Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence

The Ability To Control The Physical Form, Like Your Bodily Movements, And Be Effective Physical
Communicators.
Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence

The Ability To Convey Or Communicate Ideas, Feelings Or Theories. There’s Sensitivity To Sound And
Meaning Of Words.

Visual-Spatial Intelligence

The Ability To Relate Well To The Surrounding Environment. It’s The Capacity To Visualize Thoughts And
Draw Mental Maps.

Interpersonal Intelligence

The Ability To Understand Others By Using Emotional Intelligence. It’s The Capacity To Detect The Mood
And Motivation Of Others.

Intrapersonal Intelligence

The Ability To Be Self-Aware And Self-Knowing. It’s Also Called The Intelligence Of The Self.

And although this theory has widely captured the attention of the psychology community and greater
public, it does have its faults.

There have been few empirical studies that actually test this theory, and this theory does not account
for other types of intelligence beyond the ones Gardner lists (Sternberg, 2003).

Triarchic theory of intelligence

Just two years later, in 1985, Robert Sternberg proposed a three-category theory of intelligence,
integrating components that were lacking in Gardner’s theory. This theory is based on the definition of
intelligence as the ability to achieve success based on your personal standards and your sociocultural
context.

According to the triarchic theory, intelligence has three aspects: analytical, creative, and practical
(Sternberg, 1985).
Analytical intelligence, also referred to as componential intelligence, refers to intelligence that is applied
to analyze or evaluate problems and arrive at solutions. This is what a traditional IQ test measure.

Creative intelligence is the ability to go beyond what is given to create novel and interesting ideas. This
type of intelligence involves imagination, innovation and problem-solving.

Practical intelligence is the ability that individuals use to solve problems faced in daily life, when a
person finds the best fit between themselves and the demands of the environment. Adapting to the
demands environment involves either utilizing knowledge gained from experience to purposefully
change oneself to suit the environment (adaptation), changing the environment to suit oneself
(shaping), or finding a new environment in which to work (selection).

Analytical Intelligence

It Refers To A Person’s Ability To Assess Information And How They Use The Information To Analyze
Problems And Arrive At Solutions.

Creative Intelligence

The Ability To Do Something In A Novel Or Innovative Way In Order To Create New Ideas Or Experiences.
It Involves Imagination And Problem-Solving Skills.

Practical Intelligence

The Ability To Solve Problems In Daily Life And Adapt To Changing Environments. People With Practical
Intelligence Are Also Called ‘Street Smart’.

Fluid vs crystalize intelligence

Psychologist Raymon Cattell, along with his student John Horn, created the theory of fluid vs. crystallized
intelligence. Fluid intelligence involves the ability to solve new problems without relying on knowledge
from previous experiences.

According to the theory, a person’s fluid intelligence declines as they get older. Crystallized intelligence,
on the other hand, increases with age—this type of intelligence is based on concrete facts and
experiences.
Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence (sometimes called EQ) refers to a person’s ability to regulate emotions, and use
their emotions to relate to others. Signs of emotional intelligence include strong self-awareness,
empathy, embracing change, and managing emotions in difficult situations.

IQ TESTING

Efforts to quantify intelligence took a significant leap forward when German psychologist William Stern
first coined the term “intelligence quotient” (IQ) in the early 20th century.Binet was the first to introduce
the concept of mental age: a set of abilities that children of a certain age possess.Since that time,
intelligence testing has emerged as a widely used tool that has led to many other tests of skill and
aptitude.

However, IQ testing continues to spur debate over its use, cultural biases, influences on intelligence, and
even the very way we define intelligence.

Binet-Simon intelligence scale: This was the first IQ test ever made, and was developed in 1905 by Alfred
Binet and Theodore Simon.

Stanford-Binet IQ test: This was psychologist Lewis Terman’s adaptation of the Binet-Simon test. Scores
are based on a person’s mental age divided by their chronological age (mental age/chronological age x
100).

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS): This was the first intelligence test for adults, developed by
David Wechsler in 1939. It was the first to use standardized normal distribution in scoring and is
commonly used today. It is divided into verbal and performance measures. Like most modern tests, it
scores on a bell curve.

Two factor theory of intelligence

For Example, He Saw That A Student Who Performed Well In Math Also Performed Well In Music. He
Hypothesized That There’s A Single Underlying Factor That Helps An Individual Utilize Corresponding
Abilities. He Called This ‘Generalized’ Form Of Intelligence The ‘G’ Factor, Which Can Lead To A
‘Specialized’ Form Of Intelligence Called The ‘S’ Factor. In Other Words, The ‘G’ Factor Is The Sum Of
Multiple S-Factor Scores. This Came To Be Known As The Two-Factor Theory Of Intelligence In
Psychology.

IQ Or Intelligence Quotient Tests, Which Measures One’s General Cognitive Abilities, Are Derived From
Spearman’s Theory Of General Intelligence.