...Running head: THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE Theories of Intelligence Anthony Dillon The University of Southern Queensland Abstract The concept of intelligence is regarded by psychologists as one of the more important individual difference measures that support predictions regarding a person’s potential for academic and other achievements in life. But what exactly is intelligence? Despite its importance, it is an entity that is not easily defined. To help define intelligence, researchers have developed theories that attempt to more fully explain its dynamic nature. This essay critically evaluates some of the well-known theories of intelligence: Spearman’s two-factor theory, Thurstone’s theory of primary mental abilities, Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, and Sternberg’s triarchic theory. The theories are discussed in terms of their relevance to the study of intelligence as well as their strengths and weaknesses. While none of the theories presented can specifically pinpoint what intelligence is, each theory is useful in revealing a different face of this important but elusive human characteristic. Theories of Intelligence Although intelligence is a long-standing topic in psychology (Laboratory of Comparative Human Cognition, 1982), a satisfactory definition of intelligence remains elusive (Carroll, 1993; Fogarty, 1999). However, several descriptions have been offered that allow a brief insight into what intelligence may be related to. For example, Eysenck...
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...Theory of Multiple IntelliGENCE PSY/300 April 9, 2012 Instructor: Angelique Grady In this paper, I will discuss the theory of multiple intelligences, developed by Howard Gardner. There are eight intelligences that Howard Gardener indentified, but I will be discussing three of them that would have an impact on my own personal success. Linguistic intelligence which refers to verbal intelligence, iInterpersonal intelligence is being able to appreciate and identify what others require, and iIntrapersonal intelligence refers to one’s self and their abilities (Smith, 2002, 2008). “Intelligence is multifaceted; that is, aspects of it can be expressed in many domains.” (Kowalski & Westen, 2011, p. 271) “We can thus define intelligence as the application of cognitive skills and knowledge to learn, solve problems, and obtain ends that are valued by an individual or cCulture” (see Gardner, 1983, p. ?). “It is also to some extent culturally shaped and culturally defined, since cultural practices support and recognize intellectual qualities that are useful in the social and ecological context.” (Kowalski & Westen, 2011, p.274). Gardner did not believe that there was only one inventory for intelligence. He used many criteria to come up with these eight intelligences. These criteria dealt with damage to the brain, and how a portion of the brain could be affected, but the other portion still worked fine. Another criteria area...
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...Multiple Intelligence Theory The topic that I will choose is history because I think that history is very relevant to many different age groups. The points in history that I will focus on are the slave era and the Salem witch craft trials because these were dark points in our Americas history and important to learn. The linguistic intelligence; I could teach the children how people communicated in the early years and how poetry was often used as a code to get word to people during slavery years to help people to escape towards freedom. Then I would teach them how to write their own poem about someone or something that they consider important with a hidden meaning in their words. The spatial intelligence; I would teach the children how to visualize what the world looked like for people of the slave era; especially if a person was born of color. To help them to visualize this, I would put them in groups of five and have each group build a small model mock town and make presentations for the class to all see. The musical intelligence; I would tell the children how the women of the slave era made up songs to direct other runaway slave freedom towards then I would have them break up in groups and make up their own song to direct others towards a common goal and see if anyone could follow it. The intrapersonal intelligence; I would have the children take a closer look at not just the victims of the Salem witch trials but also the persecutors which started the whole series of events...
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...Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligence Introduction to Psychology Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligence Intelligence cannot be seen, it has no mass, and it occupies no space. Nevertheless, we feel certain that it exists (Introduction to Psychology, 2007). Psychologist Alfred Binet, who was busy creating tests to rate child intelligence, was passionate about testing and measuring human capabilities. His understanding of intelligence evolved through intense trial-and-error testing with local students. Working with groups of average students as well as mentally handicapped students, Binet discovered certain tasks that average students could handle but that handicapped students could not. He calculated the normal abilities for students at each age, and could pinpoint how many years a student's mental age was above or below the norm. Binet equated intelligence with common sense. He called intelligence "judgment…good sense…the faculty of adapting one's self to circumstances." He also believed that intelligence is a combination of many skills - skills that are shaped heavily by the environment (Intelligence and Achievement Testing: Is the Half Full Glass Getting Fuller). In 1983, Howard Gardner argued that "reason, intelligence, logic and knowledge are not synonymous...", setting forth a theory of multiple intelligences. The concept of multiple intelligences helped broaden the idea of "intelligence" from a mathematical and verbal understanding, which had become...
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...What are some examples of ways in which observational learning has benefited you in your life? Are there instances in which observational learning has worked to your disadvantage? While I was a teenager about the age of 13 years old I visited my cousins in the country area where they had a coconut farm. While on the farm I observed my cousin climbed a tall coconut palm tree using his hand and feet in a well coordinated movement of hand and feet. I was then able to climb the tree in the same manner. Another occasion where I used observational learning to my benefit was in the military where I observed a demonstration of how to negotiate obstacles I then applied what I saw done and successfully did the same. (Bandura, 1986) However, I have no example where observational learning was used to my disadvantage but rather I have on occasions observed others mistakes and learnt how not to do something; that is: learning form others mistakes. As an eyewitness to a crime, how could you use information in this chapter to improve your memory for specific details? If you were a juror, what would you say to the other jurors about the reliability of eyewitness testimony? Being an eye witness to a crime I can help improve my memory by Maintenance rehearsal of the information stored in my Short Term Memory I can extend the duration of your Short Term Memory (STM). Because the capacity and duration...
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...psychometrics, statistics, and the study of human intelligence. He developed methods for scaling psychological measures, assessing attitudes, and test theory, among many other influential contributions. He is best known for the development of new factor analytic techniques to determine the number and nature of latent constructs within a set of observed variables. Thurstone considers intelligence as a mental trait and the capacity to make impulses focal at their early, unfinished stage of formation. To him therefore, Intelligence is the capacity for abstraction, which is an inhibitory process. Zeichner (2007) defines intelligence as the ability to learn quickly, solve problems, understand complex and abstract issues and generally behave in a reasonable, rational and purposeful manner. Intelligence derives from the Latin verb intelligere, which means to comprehend or perceive. It is the mental quality that consists of the abilities to learn from experience, adapt to new situation, understand and handle abstract concepts and use knowledge to manipulate ones environment. Intelligence can also be described as being able to think logically, analyze issues, and solve problems and to cope with life in a new environment. Thurstone (1887-1955) offered a differing theory of intelligence. Instead of viewing intelligence as a single, general ability, Thurstone's theory focused on seven different "primary mental abilities. (Schmuck, 2006). Under this theory there generally seven key terms that are...
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...Charles Spearman - General Intelligence: British psychologist Charles Spearman (1863-1945) described a concept he referred to as general intelligence, or the g factor. After using a technique known as factor analysis to to examine a number of mental aptitude tests, Spearman concluded that scores on these tests were remarkably similar. People who performed well on one cognitive test tended to perform well on other tests, while those who scored badly on one test tended to score badly on others. He concluded that intelligence is general cognitive ability that could be measured and numerically expressed. Louis L. Thurstone - Primary Mental Abilities: Psychologist Louis L. Thurstone (1887-1955) offered a differing theory of intelligence. Instead of viewing intelligence as a single, general ability, Thurstone's theory focused on seven different "primary mental abilities." The abilities that he described were: * Verbal comprehension * Reasoning * Perceptual speed * Numerical ability * Word fluency * Associative memory * Spatial visualization Howard Gardner - Multiple Intelligences: One of the more recent ideas to emerge is Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. Instead of focusing on the analysis of test scores, Gardner proposed that numerical expressions of human intelligence are not a full and accurate depiction of people's abilities. His theory describes eight distinct intelligences that are based on skills and abilities that are valued...
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... However if asked many people can not define “intelligence”. Sternberg and Detterman in 1986 asked a large number of theorists what intelligence means. They were not able to find two persons to give them the same definition, though all the theorists asked stated that intelligence is the ability of an individual to learn and remember things. Therefore the individual will also will be able to use his knowledge and even put them into practice to solve certain tasks.(Martin et. al. 2010). The modern ideas of intelligence have been formed just before the end of the nineteenth century. This was possible due to work of to important people in psychology; the French Alfred Binet and the English Francis Galton. Alfred Binet was instructed by the French Ministry of Public Instruction to create and develop an intelligence test to check the level of intelligence of children found in the schools. The purpose of this test was to find if the children will perform the intelligence tests designed for their age and if they are up to the level of intelligence they should be at their age. Another important matter of this tests was to find that if there are any children that did not reach the level of intelligence they should have and if those need special education. Therefore in 1905 Binet and Theodore Simon created the Binet-Simon scale, which was the first intelligence test, actually was the base on the development pyramid of intelligence tests.(Maltby et. al. 2010). Charles Spearman...
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...RUNNING HEAD: HOWARD GARDNER’S MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES 1 Howard Gardner: Human Development and Education “Thinking about Thinking” University of St. Thomas School of Education Counselor Education Cohort Program Submitted by: Carolyn Assaad, B.A. School Counseling Candidate Submitted to: Dr. Roman Alvarez, LPC-S, NCC, ACS, LMFT, LSOTP, FAPA, MTAPA Summer I, 2012 RUNNING HEAD: HOWARD GARDNER’S MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES 2 Abstract This paper explores the following: 1) discusses Howard Gardner’s philosophy of education and background; 2) discusses qualities that make him an educational leader including the relevance of his work; 3) examines his theory of multiple intelligences and its relevance in education; 4) addresses pros and cons of his theory and 5) discusses the influence he has had on education in the United States. Implications for current issues in education and counseling are addressed with regards to the theory presented. RUNNING HEAD: HOWARD GARDNER’S MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES 3 Background and Philosophy In the 1960’s Howard Gardner was a graduate student in Psychology at Harvard University. He was trained as a developmental psychologist so he was concerned with the nature of human organisms and the stages and laws of cognition as well as the stages of moral judgment and aesthetic evaluation. He had the opportunity to study under individuals such as psychoanalyst...
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...I can get it though, if I get enough practice.” When the gets frustrated, the retreats to his room where the plays guitar; he has even done some of his own arrangements. Gavin is very skilled at working with people and some of his peers turn to him as an arbitrator when clashes occur in club and other organisational meetings. • Consider Gavin’s intelligence based on Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Assess Gavin’s intelligence on this basis. In the case of Gavin, he possesses mostly the musical- rhythmic, intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligences. The complexity he faces is from his mathematical- logical intelligence and linguistic intelligence as he cannot sort out his difficulties in his studies. As he states that he retreats to his room to play guitar when he is frustrated. This demonstrates that Gavin has the capacity to think in music; to be able to hear patterns, recognize them, and perhaps manipulate them. People who have strong musical intelligence don't just remember music easily, they cannot get it out of their minds, and it is so omnipresent. People with musical intelligence look for patterns in speech and language, for example, they look for patterns in new information in order to increase learning. They remember things by turning them into lyrics or...
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...ARE THERE MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES DANA CHATMAN Student #21838383 Submitted for SSC130BB: Essentials Psychology August 25, 2013 Research project #05020500 Introduction: I have chosen to discuss about in this paper is the impact of different learning style with” multiple intelligences”. In the article, "The Foundations of the Theory of Multiple Intelligences", by Thomas Armstrong, he explains the creation of multiple intelligence theory. The first intelligence test (or IQ) was established by (Alfred Binet, a French psychologist, in relevance for failing students to succeed in college. After eighty years had passed another psychologist, Howard Gardner, begin to debate the thoughts and perceptions of Alfred Binet and redefine the intelligence test into seven specific areas of life. Linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, and intrapersonal were the seven main views of the IQ test that test the level of understanding for each person. In addition to this, all of these seven areas were not meant for everybody to excel in or to understand. Intelligences were sometimes used together to complete one task such as washing clothes. First you have to a visual amount of clothes that can fit into the washer and use a certain amount of muscle to lift the clothes and also measure out the exact amount of liquid needed to clean all of the clothes. In one way or another, everybody has the seven intelligences but may have their own levels...
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...Abstract This paper introduces the educational theory most useful within my setting for work, which is an elementary school special education class, the aims, goals and objectives and how this theory supports my teaching. The theory most useful to my teaching is Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences. Howard Gardner has postulated multiple intelligences. He contends that there are different mental operations associated with intelligence, and there are many different types of intelligence. Too often our society overem¬phasizes verbal ability. Gardner outlines eight types of intelligence: (1) verbal/ linguistic, (2) logical/mathematic, (3) visual/spatial, (4) bodily/kinesthetic, (5) mu¬sical/rhythmic, (6) interpersonal, (7) intrapersonal, and (8) naturalistic (as sited in Ornstein and Hunkins, 2009, p. 129). AIM The aim of instituting multiple intelligence teaching is to encourage critical thinking skills. The importance in such an educational theory is upon learning rather than teaching. The students’ attentions and learning styles dictate the path of the curriculum being taught. This model acclimates to students, rather than expecting students to adjust to it. As with my particular classroom practices, I believe that coaching and learning through the multiple intelligences helps solve many collective school problems and elevates the learning experience for students and teachers alike. Students begin to appreciate how they are intelligent. Learning is...
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...used multiple intelligences (MI) since the day they were born. We have never thought about how we use them in our daily lives because they are used naturally. Gardner defines intelligence as "the capacity to solve problems or to fashion products that are valued in one or more cultural setting". Using biological as well as cultural research, he formulated a list of seven intelligences. The seven intelligences include linguistic intelligence, logical mathematical intelligence, musical intelligence, spatial intelligence, kinesthetic intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, and intrapersonal intelligence. He later added two more, naturalist and existential. This paper examines Gardner’s research and its effectiveness towards adult learners. Gardner initially created a list of seven intelligences. The first two have been typically valued in schools; the next three are usually associated with the arts; and the final two are what he called 'personal intelligences' (Gardner 1993). According to Gardner (1993), Linguistic intelligence learners enjoy writing, reading, telling stories or doing crossword puzzles. Logical-Mathematical intelligence learners are interested in patterns, categories and relationships. They are drawn to arithmetic problems, strategy games and experiments. Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence learners process knowledge through bodily sensations. They are often athletic, dancers or good at crafts such as sewing or woodworking. Spatial intelligence learners think...
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...MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES? | |The topic that I have chosen is Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. The theory of multiple intelligences was proposed by Howard Gardner in 1983 as a model of intelligence that differentiates intelligence in to various specific modalities, rather than seeing it as dominated by a single general ability. Gardner argues that there is a wide range of cognitive abilities, and that there are only very weak correlations among them. For example, the theory predicts that a child who learns to multiply easily is not necessarily generally more intelligent than a child who has more difficulty on this task. They may best learn to multiply through a different approach, and may excel in a field outside of mathematics, or may even be looking at and understanding the multiplication process at a fundamentally deeper level, or perhaps as an entirely different process. Gardner, Howard (1993) It is vital to realize that a student’s capability can’t solely be judged according to the student’s academic performance. It is the duty of educators, parents, and others who work with the youth in our schools to understand that a student’s capability should be based upon their individual learning style. This learning style is affected and determined by many factors in a student’s life; one of them however, is the unique and individual make-up of one’s brain. For this reason, many educators have looked to Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences to help them...
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...Gardner Intelligence Howard Gardner came up with a theory of multiple intelligences. The intelligences that he came up with include linguistic, musical, logical-mathematical, naturalist, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal. According to this theory, "we are all able to know the world through language, logical-mathematical analysis, spatial representation, musical thinking, the use of the body to solve problems or to make things, an understanding of other individuals, and an understanding of ourselves. Where individuals differ is in the strength of these intelligences - the so-called profile of intelligences -and in the ways in which such intelligences are invoked and combined to carry out different tasks, solve diverse problems, and progress in various domains" (Lane, 2011). In this paper the writer will pick three of the intelligences and explain how each can have an impact on your personal success. Howard Gardner Theory Howard Gardner is a developmental psychologist who developed the theory of multiple intelligences, a theory that suggest that contrary to popular belief, intelligence is actually measured on numerous levels. His theory suggests that although society believes that there is a general intelligence there are in fact multiple intelligences. In other words, a person may be knowledgeable at one thing yet lack experience and expertise in other areas. For instance, a mechanic may have the ability to repair a blown engine yet not know how to...
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