Theories of Intelligence

Although there are many different definitions of intelligence today, most experts believe that intelligence includes mental talents such as logic, reasoning, problem-solving, and planning.

  As per the current definitions of intelligence tend to imply that it is the capacity to:

• Learn from your mistakes: Knowledge acquisition, retention, and application are crucial aspects of intelligence
• Recognise issues: To use knowledge, individuals must first recognise the issues they can help with
• People must then apply what they’ve learned to come up with solutions to problems.

 Historical Perspective Of Theories Of Intelligence

 The history dates back to the 20 th century. In the early twentieth century, German psychologist William Stern created the “intelligence quotient” (IQ). Psychologist Alfred Binet created the first IQ tests to aid the French government in identifying students who required extra help in school.

Since then, IQ testing has become a frequently utilised instrument that has spawned a slew of additional skill and aptitude tests. On the other hand, IQ testing continues to spark controversy about its usage, cultural biases, impacts on intellect, and even the definition of intelligence itself.

 Theories Of Intelligence

There are several theories of intelligence in psychology. As per some researchers, there are three, four, or six psychology theories. This article has highlighted some main theories of intelligence in psychology. These theories have emerged in recent 100 years!

You can read about those theories by scrolling down:

Theories Of General Intelligence

 The theory of general intelligence is the cognitive theory. British scientist Charles Spearman (1863–1945) created the term “general intelligence” or “g factor.” After using factor analysis in these examinations, Spearman noticed that the results were remarkably similar.

Those who performed well on one cognitive exam were more likely to do well on others, whereas those who performed poorly on one test were more likely to perform poorly. He discovered that intelligence is a general cognitive ability that researchers can measure and represent mathematically.

Primary Mental Abilities 

Psychologist Louis L. Thurstone (1887–1955) proposed a different theory of intelligence; in his theory, he argues that intelligence is not subjected to one individual factor. He argues that intelligence depends on multiple abilities. These are some of them:

• The capacity to learn and recall information through associative memory.
• The capacity to solve mathematical problems is referred to as numerical ability
• Perceptual quickness refers to the capacity to recognise differences and similarities between items quickly
• The reasoning is the capacity to identify and apply rules
• The capacity to visualise relationships in space is referred to as spatial visualisation
• The capacity to define and comprehend words is known as verbal comprehension
• Word fluency is defined as the capacity to form words quickly.

Multiple  Intelligence

 This theory is generally known as Gardner’s theory of Intelligence. Howard Gardner’s notion of multiple intelligences is one of the more recent concepts. Traditional IQ testing, he claims, does not fully and correctly reflect a person’s talents. Based on talents and abilities valued in diverse civilisations, his hypothesis offered eight different bits of intelligence: 

• The capacity to regulate body motions and manipulate items denotes bodily-kinesthetic intelligence
• Interpersonal intelligence is the ability to recognise and respond to others’ moods, motives, and wants
• Intrapersonal intelligence is defined as being self-conscious and aware of one’s inner feelings, values, beliefs, and thought processes
• The capacity to think conceptually and abstractly and recognise logical or numerical patterns is referred to as logical-mathematical intelligence
• Musical intelligence is defined as the capacity to create and appreciate rhythm, pitch, and timbre through music
• Naturalistic intelligence is defined as the capacity to detect and classify animals, plants, and other natural items
• Verbal-linguistic intelligence refers to a person’s ability to communicate effectively and their sensitivity to words’ sounds, meanings, and rhythms
• Visual-spatial intelligence refers to thinking in pictures and perceiving things precisely and abstractly.

The Triarchic Intelligence Approach

As per Robert Sternberg, intelligence is mental activity oriented toward purposeful adaptation to, selection, and structuring real-world surroundings important to one’s existence. He suggests the triarchic approach of intelligence.

Although he agreed with Gardner that intelligence is much more than a single, generic ability, he claimed that certain aspects of Gardner’s intelligence should be considered particular skills rather than types of intelligence. Sternberg introduced the concept of “successful intelligence,” which entails three elements: 6

• Analytical intelligence refers to the capacity to analyse data and solve issues
• The capacity to come up with fresh ideas is referred to as creative intelligence
• The capacity to adapt to a changing environment is known as practical intelligence.

Testing for Intelligence 

Exploring the history, research, and results of intelligence testing will help you better understand intelligence and how it is measured.

Measurement of Intelligence by Psychologists and Psychiatrists

To assess intellect, experts employ a range of standardised exams. Some are group-based aptitude assessments, such as the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and the American College Test (ACT). 

The average IQ score is about 100. Most children with intellectual disabilities (85%) are between 55 and 70. If somebody scores low on the IQ scale, they might be subjected to severe mental diseases.

Conclusion

In psychology, intelligence is defined as the general capacity that allows a person to perform a given activity. In psychology, there are various theories of intelligence. There have been three, four, or six distinct theories of Intelligence in the last 100 years. The history may be traced back to the twentieth century. Howard Gardner’s Theory of Intelligence divides intelligence into eight categories.

According to Gardner, traditional IQ testing does not accurately reflect a person’s abilities. Intelligence is characterised as intelligence to communicate effectively, analyse data, solve issues, and adapt to changing environments. The typical IQ score is around 100, while most children with intellectual impairments (85%) have IQ scores of 55 to 70.