CH10 INTELLIGENCE Intelligence is a concept not a thing many research studies intelligence has been defined as whatever intelligence tests measure school smarts BUT intelligence is not a quality like height or weight that has the same meaning to everyone around the globe Intelligence assigned to the qualities that enable success in their own time and in their own culture Ex amazon rain forest intelligence understanding medicinal qualities of local plants North American high school mastering difficult concepts in tough courses Intelligence ability to learn form experience solve problems and use knowledge to adapt to new situations Intelligence test assess people s mental abilities and compares them with others using numerical scores Charles SPEARMAN controversial we have one general intelligence g people have special abilities that stand out He helped develop factor analysis General intelligence g a general intelligence factor that according to Spearman and others underlies specific mental abilities and is therefore measured by every task on an intelligence test Factor analysis statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items factors on a test used to identify different dimensions of performance that underlie a person s total score Spearman also found that those who score high in one area ex verbal intelligence typically score higher than average in other areas like spatial or reasoning ability common skill set g underlies all intelligent behavior spearman s opponent L L THURSTONE a single g score is not as informative as scores for 7 primary mental abilities gave 56 diff tests to people and mathematically identified 7 clustered of primary mental abilities our intelligence may be broken down into 7 factors word fluency verbal comprehension spatial ability perceptual speed numerical ability inductive reasoning memory BUT even his 7 mental abilities show a tendency to cluster underlying g factor who excelled in one of the 7 clusters generally scored well on the others still some evidence of a g factor Intelligence several distinct abilities tend to cluster together and correlate enough to define a general intelligence factor Sastoshi kanazawa general intelligence evolved as a form of intelligence that helps people solve novel problems how to stop a fire from spreading how to find food during a drought etc NOT Common problems how to mate how to read a strangers face how to find your way back to camp require different sort of intelligence General intelligence scores DO correlate with the ability to solve NOVEL NEW problems But do NOT correlate with individual s skills in EVOLUTIONAL FAMILIAR SITUATIONS marrying parenting forming close friendships etc THEORIES OF MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES Howard GARDNER intelligence is multiple abilities that come in different packages Our abilities are best classified into 8 independent intelligences unrelated to each other which include a broad range of skills beyond traditional school smarts Naturalist Linguistic Logica mathematical Musical Spatial Bodily kinesthetic Intrapersonal Interpersonal Ex savant syndrome 4 5 with savant syndromes are males with autism and developmental disorder score low on intelligence tests but have brilliant in their own specific way some have no language ability but are able to compute numbers as quickly and accurately as a calculator create works of art or musical performance etc Kim Peek savant Did not have autism in 10 esconds he could read and remember a page memorized 9000 books incl Shakespeare and the bible learned maps from the front of phone books and could provide MapQuest like directions within any major U S city But he could not button his clothes or understand abstract concepts lower your voice slid down in his chair to lower his voice box Gardner uses this evidence we do not have AN intelligence but MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES verbal and mathematical aptitudes assessed by standard tests Research using factor analysis there IS general intelligence factor It predicts performance on various complex tasks and in various jobs But high intelligence may help you get into a profession but it won t make you successful once you re there Success combines talent with grit strength determination those who become highly successful tend to be well connected conscientious energetic K Anders ericsson 10 year rule 10 years of intense daily practice Time and experience is needed to reach peak expertise in skills STERNBERG S THREE INTELLIGENCES our intelligence is best classified into 3 areas that predict real world success 1 Analytical academic problem solving intelligence assessed by intelligence tests present well defined problems having a single right answer Predict school grades reasonably well vocational success more modestly 2 Creative intelligence demonstrated in reacting adaptively to novel situations and generating novel ideas 3 Practical intelligence required for everyday tasks Gardner and Sternberg differ on specific points but they agree that multiple abilities can contribute to life success And that differing varieties of giftedness add spice to life and challenges for education INTELLIGENCE AND CREATIVITY Andrew WILES creativity Creativity ability to produce ideas that are both NOVEL AND VALUABLE certain level of aptitude score above 120 on a standard intelligence test supports creativity Intelligence matters 2 kinds of thinking engage different brain areas convergent thinking intelligence tests that demand a single answer injury to left parietal lobe damages this thinking divergent thinking creativity tests injury to certain areas of frontal lobes leave reading writing and arithmetic skills intact but destroy imagination 5 components of creativity Sternberg 1 Expertise well developed base of knowledge furnishes the ideas images and phrases we use as mental building blocks The more blocks we have the more chances we have to combine them in novel ways 2 Imaginative thinking skills ability to see things in novel ways recognize patterns make connections 3 Venturesome personality seeks new experiences tolerates ambiguity and risk and perseveres in overcoming obstacles 4 Intrinsic motivation being driven more by interest satisfaction challenge the work itself than by external pressures like deadlines impressing people making money 5 Creative environment sparks supports and refines creative ideas a Support from colleagues EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ability to perceive understand manage and use emotions High