INTELLIGENCE
PERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY 20
WHAT IS INTELLIGENCE?
Dictionary defines it as the ability to acquire
knowledge and skills
Einstein – “The true sign of intelligence is not
knowledge but imagination”
Socrates – “I know that I am intelligent because I know
that I know nothing”
WHAT IS INTELLIGENCE?
Some researchers suggest that intelligence is a single,
general ability.
Others argues that intelligence encompasses a range of
aptitudes, skills and talents.
There are several theories that have been developed
regarding intelligence
Intelligence & the Brain
Intelligence is not confined to a single area of the brain
but involves multiple brain areas working together.
Intelligence is not related to brain size or structure but
to how efficiently information travels through the
brain
Intelligence & the Brain
Haier and Jung conducted studies that led them to
believe that the areas of the brain most directly
involved in intelligence are clustered in the frontal and
parietal lobes – intelligence is based on how efficiently
these areas communicate with each other
If their studies prove to be true this could have
implications on IQ – could raise the IQ of those with
low IQ
Intelligence Theories
General Intelligence – Charles Spearman
Described a concept known as “general intelligence” or “g-factor”
Examines subjects performance on a number of mental aptitude
tests
People who performed well on one cognitive task tended to
perform well on others – and vice versa – if a subject performed
poorly on one task, they tended to perform poorly on the others.
Concluded that intelligence is a general cognitive ability that
could be measured and numerically expressed
Intelligence Theories
Primary Mental Abilities – Louis Thurstone
Thurstone’s theory focused on seven different primary mental abilities:
Verbal comprehension
Reasoning
Perceptual speed
Numerical ability
Word fluency
Associative memory
Spatial visualization
Intelligence Theories
Multiple Intelligences – Howard Gardner
Argued that numerical expressions of human
intelligence are not a full and accurate depiction of
people’s abilities
Proposed a theory that described eight distinct
intelligences based on skills and abilities that are
valued within different cultures.
Multiple Intelligences
The eight intelligences of Gardner’s theory are:
Visual-spatial intelligence
Verbal-linguistic intelligence
Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence
Logical-mathematical intelligence
Interpersonal intelligence
Musical intelligence
Intra-personal intelligence
Naturalistic intelligence
Intelligence Theories
Triarchic Theory of Intelligence – Robert Sternberg
Defined intelligence as mental activity directed towards
purposive adaptation to selection and shaping of realworld environments relevant to one’s life
Argued that Gardner’s intelligences are more like
individual talents rather than mental activities
Triarchic Theory of
Intelligence
Successful intelligence is comprised of three different
factors:
Analytical intelligence: problem-solving abilities
Creative intelligence: the ability to deal with new
situations using past experience and current skill
Practical intelligence: the ability to adapt to a changing
environment
What is IQ?
IQ: Intelligence Quotient
A number derived from a standardized intelligence
test.
Originally scores were calculated by dividing the
subject’s mental age by their chronological age and
then multiplying by 100.
Today, scores are calculated by comparing the subject’s
score to the scores of other people in the same age
group
What is IQ?
IQ tests are designed to measure both crystallized and fluid
intelligence
Crystallized intelligence: the knowledge and skills one has
acquired throughout their life
Fluid intelligence: one’s ability to reason, problem-solve and
make sense of abstract information
Subjects must complete a series of subtests designed to
measure mathematical abilities, language skills, memory,
reasoning skills, and information-processing skills
What is IQ?
On modern IQ tests, the average score is 100 with a
standard deviation of 15
This means that 68% of people will have an IQ from
85-115 and 95% of people will have an IQ between 70
and 130
While an IQ test may be a good general indicator of
your reasoning and problem-solving abilities, many
psychologists suggest that these tests do not tell the
whole story – they do not measure practical abilities
and talents.
Emotional Intelligence
Refers to a person’s ability to perceive, control, evaluate
and express emotions.
Research suggests that it can be learned and
strengthened
Others suggest that it is something you are born with.
Four Branches of Emotional
Intelligence
Perceiving emotions: Being able to understand
nonverbal signals such as body language and facial
expressions
Reasoning with emotions: using emptions to promote
thinking and cognitive activity. Emotions help us to
prioritize what we pay attention and react to – we
respond emotionally to things that get our attention
Four Branches of Emotional
Intelligence
Understanding Emotions: interpreting the causes and
meanings of emotions. For example, if your teacher is
acting angry, it might mean that they are dissatisfied
with your work or behavior, or it could be because her
cat threw up on her new shoes and she spilled coffee
on her shirt this morning before work
Managing Emotions: regulating emotions, responding
appropriately and responding to the emotions of
others.
How do we measure EQ?
Reuven Bar-On’s EQ-I
A self-report test designed to measure competencies
including awareness, stress tolerance, problem solving,
and happiness
Believed that emotional intelligence is an array of noncognitive abilities, competencies and skills that
influence our ability to succeed in coping with
environmental demands.
How do we measure EQ?
Multifactor Emotional Intelligence Scale (MEIS)
An ability based test in which test-takers perform tasks
designed to assess their ability to perceive, identify,
understand and utilize emotions.
How do we measure EQ?
Seligman Attributional Style Questionnaire (SASQ)
Measures optimism and pessimism
Was used by life insurance companies.
How do we measure EQ?
Emotional Competence Inventory (ECI)
Based on the Self-assessment questionnaire
Involves having people who know a subject offer
ratings of that person’s abilities on a number of
different emotional competencies
What is your EQ?
Psychology.about.com/library/quiz/bl_eq_quiz.htm
Go to the following website and answer the questions.
Complete the worksheet.
What determines Intelligence?
Many psychologists debate the question of whether
NATURE or NURTURE is responsible for
determining intelligence.
Nearly all psychologists agree that BOTH nature and
nurture play a role in intelligence.
Evidence of Nature (genetics)
Twin studies suggest that identical twins’ IQs are more
similar than those of fraternal twins
Siblings raised together in the same home have IQ’s
that are more similar than those of adopted children
living in the same environment
Evidence of Nurture
(Environment)
Identical twins raised apart have IQs that are less
similar that identical twins raised in the same
environment
School attendance has an impact on IQ scores
Children who are breastfed during the first 3-5 months
of life score higher on IQ tests at age 6 that children
the same age who were not breastfed
Are people with high IQs
more successful?
Many people believe that having a high IQ is a sure fire
way to guarantee success in life
While people with high IQs are naturally more
successful, it does not guarantee success in all domains
of life
Are people with high IQs
more successful?
Often highly intelligent people have poor social skills
and struggle with mental instability.
Personality factors including motivation, willingness to
work hard, being committed to goals, creativity, and
emotional maturity are also linked to success in life