PSYCH255

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Cognitive Psychology Course Timeline
• Week 1: October 26 – 30, 2020
– Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
– Cognitive-Contextual Theories of Development
• Week 2: November 2 – 6, 2020
– Cognitive Neuroscience
• Week 3: November 9 – 13, 2020
– Sensation and Perception
– Attention and Consciousness
• Week 4: November 16 – 20, 2020
– Midterm Exam
• Week 5: November 23 – 27, 2020
– Memory: Structures and Processes
• Week 6: November 30 – December 4, 2020
– Language
– Problem Solving and Creativity
• Week 7: December 7 – 11, 2020
– Decision Making and Reasoning
• Week 8: December 14 – 18, 2020
– Final Exam
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Week 2: Cognitive-Contextual Theories (Part 2)
• Defining Cognitive-Contextual Theories of Development
• What is Intelligence?
• Major Psychometric Theories of Intelligence

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Cognitive-Contextual Theories
• It deals with the way that cognitive
processes operate in various settings.

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Cognitive-Contextual Theories of Intelligence
• Intelligence is a combination of abilities
that can be measured by mental testing
(verbal, numerical, abstract, spatial,
mechanical)
• These tests often include analogies,
classification or identification, and series
completion.
• 3 Major Psychometric Theories:
– Charles Spearman
– Howard Gardner
– Robert Sternberg

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Is there one intelligence or multiple intelligence?

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 Charles Spearman’s Theory
of General Intelligence
• Developed “factor analysis”
• Two factors
“g” = general intelligence
“s” = specific ability

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 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.

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 Howard Gardner’s Theory of
Multiple Intelligences
• “There is no single intelligence, but
rather distinct, independent multiple
intelligences.”
• Think of all of the people who aren’t
“classically intelligent,” but who made
great contributions to our culture.
• Sees traditional IQ tests as far too
limited.

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 within different cultures. The eight
intelligences Gardner described are:
• Visual-spatial Intelligence
• Verbal-linguistic Intelligence
• Bodily-kinesthetic Intelligence
• Logical-mathematical Intelligence
• Interpersonal Intelligence
• Musical Intelligence
• Intra-personal Intelligence
• Naturalistic Intelligence
• Existential Intelligence

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 Gardner’s
Multiple
Intelligences

• Intrapersonal
• Ability to know oneself and to develop a sense of identity
• Linguistic
• Often measured on IQ tests with reading comprehension and vocabulary
tests
• Logical-Mathematical
• Often measured on IQ tests with analogies, math problems and logic
problems
• Spatial
• Ability to form mental images of objects and think about their relationships
in space
• Musical
• Ability to perceive and create patterns of rhythms and pitches
• Interpersonal
• Ability to understand other people’s emotions, motives and actions
• Bodily-Kinesthetic
• Ability for controlled movement and coordination

Two Other Intelligences

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• Naturalistic Intelligence / Nature Smart
• A person who has the ability to identify and classify patterns in nature.
• Enjoys nature Caring for animals Likes to be outdoors
• Existential Intelligence
• The ability to be sensitive to, or have the capacity for tackling deeper or
larger questions about human existence, such as the meaning of life - -
why are we born - - why do we die
• ***Spiritual Intelligence
• Gardner chose not to include spiritual intelligence amongst his
"intelligences" due to the challenge of codifying quantifiable scientific
criteria.

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 Robert Sternberg’s Triarchic
Theory of Intelligence
• All people have all three to some
degree
• Most people are stronger in one
type than the others
• Intelligence is trainable
• Intelligence is affected by and
related to culture

Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

• Psychologist Robert Sternberg defined intelligence as "mental activity directed
toward purposive adaptation to, selection and shaping of, real-world environments
relevant to one’s life." While he agreed with Gardner that intelligence is much
broader than a single, general ability, he instead suggested some of Gardner's
intelligences are better viewed as individual talents.

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Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory

PRACTICAL • Ability to cope with the environment; “street

INTELLIGENCE smarts”

• Ability to analyze problems and find correct

ANALYTICAL answers; ability measured by most IQ tests
INTELLIGENCE
• Also called logical reasoning

• Form of intelligence that helps people see new

CREATIVE
relationships among concepts; involves insight
INTELLIGENCE
and creativity

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 Is there one intelligence or multiple intelligence?
Theory Theorist Summary Strength/s Problems
• Factor analysis • Controversial;
Theory of
• 1 general Scores tend to vary limited?
General Charles Spearman
intelligence; g together • Can 1 factor explain
Intelligence
factor (g) all human abilities?
Theory of • Intelligence vs.
• 7-9 independent Not just book
Multiple Howard Gardner talent/abilities
intelligence smarts
Intelligence • No evidence

Triarchic Theory • 3 independent Real world success • 3 sides of the same

Robert Sternberg
of Intelligence intelligences Reliable coin?

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Thank you!
Any questions?

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