PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology

Lecture 7
Chapter 7: Intelligence

Ms. Ashma Rahman

Lecturer
Department of History and Philosophy
The discussion will include

• The explanation about the concept of

intelligence
• Different theories to understand intelligence
• Assessing intelligence
• Variations in intellectual abilities
• Genetic and environmental determinants of
intelligence
 The explanation about the concept of intelligence

Defining what exactly intelligence is much trickier. The

concept of intelligence largely varies with culture,
society, race even perception of people.
e.g. the concept of intelligence in remote outback of
Australia is the skill of hunting whereas in the urban
pat it becomes the communication skills and business
ideas.
Even westerns and Africans have very different notions
of intelligence. Where Americans think of intelligence
more of the logical, rationally organization of speech,
the Africans consider it more of a form of social
communication.
 What is Intelligence?
Due to the huge diversity, it is difficult to have a universal
definition of intelligence. It is not a quality like height or
weight that will be measured simply putting someone on
a scale. It has different meaning for different cultures,
ages and skill sets.
Most of the scholars agreed that, it shouldn’t be
considered as a thing rather a concept.
The capacity to understand the world, think rationally, and
use resources effectively when faced with challenges.
( Feldman, 2008)
It the ability to learn from experiences, solve problems and
use knowledge to adopt to new experiences.
These definitions of intelligence are largely
focused on the aspect of human’s survival in a
given context. One of the reason behind the
formulation of such definition is the idea of
“evolution’’, Where a certain species’
existence is determined by the capacity of its
understanding of the surrounding, thinking of
the world rationally and effective usage of the
tools/strategies/knowledge to assure its
survival within that settings.
 Different theories to understand intelligence

What if someone who is the best cricketer is

terrible at solving math problem?
Can anyone say that the person is intelligent or not
just based on those qualities or should it be more
accurate to measure the brain’s capacity based
on several different ways?
To find out answers for such confusing questions
psychologists started their search in the later part
of the 20th century, which is continuing till now.
 The existing theory in this regard are

Single factor theory of intelligence:

• G factor Theory By Spearman

• Single factor theory of Fluid and Crystallized
intelligence

Multiple Intelligences theory

Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence
Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory
 The Early single factor Theories
According to Spearman, a British psychologists,
“we have a one comprehensive general
intelligence that underlies all of our specific
mental abilities.” From our ability to effectively
learn a new skill to memorize a new
information to solve math all are the result of
our one single quality.
He called it the G factor.  
 Single factor theory of Fluid and Crystallized intelligence

The concept of single factor intelligence evolved by the

effort of the contemporary psychologists and
reached at a point which defines intelligence as a
single factor with two sets of components;

a) fluid intelligence b) crystallized intelligence

These two types of components work together behind

the single “G” factor/ single capacity of intelligence.
Fluid Intelligence; Reflects information-
processing capabilities, reasoning, and
memory.

Crystallized Intelligence
• The accumulation of knowledge and verbal
skills, and strategies that are learned through
experience and can be applied in problem-
solving situations.
• Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences
• We have a minimum eight different forms of intelligence.
• Musical: Skills in tasks involving music; used by composers,
musicians, music critics
• Bodily Kinesthetic: Skills in using the whole body or various
portions of it in the solution of problems or in the construction of
products or displays, exemplified by dancers, athletes, actors, and
surgeons.
• Logico-Mathematical: Skills in problem solving and scientific
thinking; used by scientists, accountants, programmers
• Linguistic: Skills involved in the production and use of language;
used for thinking by lawyers, writers, comedians
• Spatial: Skills involving 3D spatial configurations, such as those
used by artists and architects.
 
• Interpersonal: Skills in interacting with others, such as sensitivity to
the moods, temperaments, motivations, and intentions of others;
used by psychologists, teachers, politicians
• Intrapersonal: Knowledge of the internal aspects of oneself; access
to one’s own feelings and emotions; used by poets, actors, ministers
• Naturalist: Ability to identify and classify patterns in nature
(animals, plants etc); used by biologists, organic farmers

• In Gardner’s view, each of the multiple intelligences is linked to an

independent system in the brain.

• Furthermore, he suggests that there may be even more types of

intelligence, such as existential intelligence, which involves
identifying and thinking about the fundamental questions of human
existence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7-rYp-BQJ
Q
• Evaluation of Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences

• Mixed scientific reaction to this model, as it is

virtually impossible to falsify
• Also not clear why only certain abilities classify
as intelligences
• Lack of good evidence that these intelligences
are truly independent
• Sternberg's Triarchic Model
Sternberg theorized three largely distinct types of
intelligence capacity
• Analytical: the ability to reason logically, or “book
smarts.”
• Practical: the ability to solve real-world problems, or
“street smarts.”
• Creative: the ability to come up with novel and effective
answers, or “creativity”; related to overall success in
living.
• Believes that having one does not ensure you have the
others
• Evaluation of Sternberg's Triarchic Model
Has several weaknesses:
• Causal relationship between job performance
and practical intelligence is not clear.
• We all possess strengths and weaknesses, but
they might not be as distinct as theorized.
Emotional Intelligence
• The ability to understand our own and others’
emotions, then apply that information
• Emotional intelligence is the basis of empathy
for others, self-awareness, and social skills
• Provides an understanding of what other people
are feeling and experiencing and permits us to
respond appropriately to others’ needs
• Assessing Intelligence
• Intelligence Tests
• Tests devised to quantify a person’s level of
intelligence
• Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scales
• Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale