What is Intelligence?

For centuries, people have been trying to define4) memory;
intelligence. However, a universally agreed upon5) speed of perception;
definition proves to be elusive so far. To some,6) reasoning skills;
intelligence is the ability to acquire new information and7) spatial visualization (2).
to adjust to new circumstances, while others regardMultiple intelligences
the skills to solve complex problems as moreSimilar to Thurstone's theory is that of Harvard
important. Thus, many contrasting theories havepsychologist Howard Gardner. In 1983, he proposed the
emerged. The four theories with the largest number ofexistence of multiple intelligences, which are
followers are the theory of general intelligence, theindependent from each other. According to him,
theory of primary mental abilities, the multipleeverybody possesses a certain combination of the
intelligences theory, and the triarchic theory offollowing:
intelligence.1) Linguistic intelligence;
General intelligence2) Logical-mathematical intelligence;
The oldest theory is that of British psychologist Charles3) Spatial intelligence;
Spearman, who, at the beginning of the 20th century,4) Musical intelligence;
proposed the existence of general intelligence. He5) Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence;
observed that people's scores on different IQ tests6) Interpersonal intelligence;
tend to correlate. In other words, somebody who7) Intrapersonal intelligence (3).
received a high score on one IQ test usually scoredThe Triarchic theory of intelligence
high on all other IQ tests, and vice versa. Therefore, heFinally, there is the Triarchic (three-part) theory of
concluded that intelligence tests all measure oneintelligence by R. Sternberg. According to him, there are
common factor, which he called general intelligence orthree different types of intelligence. The first one is
"g". In addition to that, Spearman argued that each testanalytic intelligence, which is the ability to reason. It
also measures some specific ability, which he termedresembles the notion of general intelligence. The other
"s" - vocabulary knowledge or mathematical skills, forcomponent of intelligence, as defined by Sternberg, is
example. However, what was of real importance tocreative intelligence or the ability to draw upon previous
Spearman was general intelligence, which he believedexperience in order to solve new problems. The last
to be the basis of all intellectual activities.part of intelligence, Sternberg argues, is practical
Crystallized and fluid intelligenceintelligence, which reflects one's ability to deal with
A similar theory by R. Cattell and J. Horn argues thateveryday situations (4).
there are two types of intelligence - fluid intelligenceIn conclusion, no unified theory of intelligence has been
(gf) and crystallized intelligence (gc). Fluid intelligence isproposed yet. Until that happens, the debates on what
one's biological ability to reason and acquire newintelligence really is are bound to continue.
information. On the other hand, crystallized intelligenceReferences:
is the set of specific knowledge and abilities that an1. Jensen, Arthur R. Straight Talk About Mental Tests.
individual has acquired by learning and experienceNew York: The Free Press, 1981. 62-63.
throughout his life (1).2. Intelligence. Encarta Reference Library 2003.
Primary mental abilitiesMicrosoft Corporation, 2002.
In 1938 American psychologist L. Thurstone suggested,3. Armstrong, Thomas. 7 kinds of smart: identifying and
that intelligence is composed of seven independentdeveloping your multiple intelligences. New York: Plume,
factors, which he called primary mental abilities:1999.
1) verbal comprehension;4. Sternberg, Robert J. How practical and creative
2) verbal fluency;intelligence determines success in life. New York:
3) mathematical ability;Simon and Schuster, 1996.