| For centuries, people have been trying to | | | | 6) reasoning skills; |
| define intelligence. However, a universally | | | | |
| agreed upon definition proves to be elusive | | | | 7) spatial visualization (2). |
| so far. To some, intelligence is the ability | | | | |
| to acquire new information and to adjust to | | | | Multiple intelligences |
| new circumstances, while others regard the | | | | |
| skills to solve complex problems as more | | | | Similar to Thurstone's theory is that of |
| important. Thus, many contrasting theories | | | | Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner. In 1983, |
| have emerged. The four theories with the | | | | he proposed the existence of multiple |
| largest number of followers are the theory of | | | | intelligences, which are independent from |
| general intelligence, the theory of primary | | | | each other. According to him, everybody |
| mental abilities, the multiple intelligences | | | | possesses a certain combination of the |
| theory, and the triarchic theory of | | | | following: |
| intelligence. | | | | |
| | | | 1) Linguistic intelligence; |
| General intelligence | | | | |
| | | | 2) Logical-mathematical intelligence; |
| The oldest theory is that of British | | | | |
| psychologist Charles Spearman, who, at the | | | | 3) Spatial intelligence; |
| beginning of the 20th century, proposed the | | | | |
| existence of general intelligence. He | | | | 4) Musical intelligence; |
| observed that people's scores on different IQ | | | | |
| tests tend to correlate. In other words, | | | | 5) Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence; |
| somebody who received a high score on one IQ | | | | |
| test usually scored high on all other IQ | | | | 6) Interpersonal intelligence; |
| tests, and vice versa. Therefore, he | | | | |
| concluded that intelligence tests all measure | | | | 7) Intrapersonal intelligence (3). |
| one common factor, which he called general | | | | |
| intelligence or "g". In addition to that, | | | | The Triarchic theory of intelligence |
| Spearman argued that each test also measures | | | | |
| some specific ability, which he termed "s" - | | | | Finally, there is the Triarchic (three-part) |
| vocabulary knowledge or mathematical skills, | | | | theory of intelligence by R. Sternberg. |
| for example. However, what was of real | | | | According to him, there are three different |
| importance to Spearman was general | | | | types of intelligence. The first one is |
| intelligence, which he believed to be the | | | | analytic intelligence, which is the ability |
| basis of all intellectual activities. | | | | to reason. It resembles the notion of general |
| | | | intelligence. The other component of |
| Crystallized and fluid intelligence | | | | intelligence, as defined by Sternberg, is |
| | | | creative intelligence or the ability to draw |
| A similar theory by R. Cattell and J. Horn | | | | upon previous experience in order to solve |
| argues that there are two types of | | | | new problems. The last part of intelligence, |
| intelligence - fluid intelligence (gf) and | | | | Sternberg argues, is practical intelligence, |
| crystallized intelligence (gc). Fluid | | | | which reflects one's ability to deal with |
| intelligence is one's biological ability to | | | | everyday situations (4). |
| reason and acquire new information. On the | | | | |
| other hand, crystallized intelligence is the | | | | In conclusion, no unified theory of |
| set of specific knowledge and abilities that | | | | intelligence has been proposed yet. Until |
| an individual has acquired by learning and | | | | that happens, the debates on what |
| experience throughout his life (1). | | | | intelligence really is are bound to continue. |
| | | | |
| Primary mental abilities | | | | References: |
| | | | |
| In 1938 American psychologist L. Thurstone | | | | 1. Jensen, Arthur R. Straight Talk About |
| suggested, that intelligence is composed of | | | | Mental Tests. New York: The Free Press, 1981. |
| seven independent factors, which he called | | | | 62-63. |
| primary mental abilities: | | | | |
| | | | 2. Intelligence. Encarta Reference Library |
| 1) verbal comprehension; | | | | 2003. Microsoft Corporation, 2002. |
| | | | |
| 2) verbal fluency; | | | | 3. Armstrong, Thomas. 7 kinds of smart: |
| | | | identifying and developing your multiple |
| 3) mathematical ability; | | | | intelligences. New York: Plume, 1999. |
| | | | |
| 4) memory; | | | | 4. Sternberg, Robert J. How practical and |
| | | | creative intelligence determines success in |
| 5) speed of perception; | | | | life. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1996. |
| | | | |