Multiple Intelligences
Howard Gardner’s
Theory of Multiple Intelligences
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Howard Gardner
“I want my children to understand the world,
but not just because the world is fascinating and
the human mind is curious. I want them to
understand it so that they will be positioned to
make it a better place. Knowledge is not the
same as morality, but we need to understand if
we are to avoid past mistakes and move in
productive directions. An important part of that
understanding is knowing who we are and what
we can do... Ultimately, we must synthesize our
understandings for ourselves. The performance
of understanding that try matters are the ones
we carry out as human beings in an imperfect
world which we can affect for good or for ill.”
(Howard Gardner, 1999)
According to Gardner, this theory is an account of human
cognition in its fullness. The intelligences provide a new definition
of human nature, cognitively speaking. Human beings are
organisms who possess a basic
set of intelligences.
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People have a unique blend of intelligences.
The biggest challenge is how to use the blend
of intelligences.
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Eight Multiple Intelligences
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Verbal linguistic
Logical-mathematical
Spatial
Musical rhythmic
Bodily-kinesthetic
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
Naturalist
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Linguistic intelligence
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Sensitivity to spoken and written language
The ability to learn languages
The capacity to use language to accomplish certain
goals
Ability to use language as a means to remember
information
Writers, poets, lawyers and speakers are among
those that Howard Gardner sees as having high
linguistic intelligence.
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Logical-mathematical intelligence
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The capacity to analyze problems logically
Carry out mathematical operations
Investigate issues scientifically
Ability to detect patterns
Ability to reason deductively and think
logically
This intelligence is most often associated with
scientific and mathematical thinking
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Spatial intelligence
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Involves the driving force to recognize and
use the patterns or shapes in open space and
also in confined areas
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Musical intelligence
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Skill in the performance, composition, and
appreciation of musical patterns
The capacity to recognize and compose
musical pitches, tones, and rhythms
According to Howard Gardner musical
intelligence runs in an almost structural
parallel to linguistic intelligence.
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Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence
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The potential of using one's whole body or
parts of the body to solve problems
Ability to use mental abilities to coordinate
bodily movements
Howard Gardner sees mental and physical
activity as related.
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Interpersonal intelligence
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Capacity to understand the intentions,
motivations and desires of other people
To work effectively with others
Educators, salespeople, religious and political
leaders, and counselors all need a welldeveloped interpersonal intelligence.
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Intrapersonal intelligence
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Entails the capacity to understand oneself, to
appreciate one's feelings, fears and
motivations
In Howard Gardner's view, it involves having
an effective working model of ourselves, and
to be able to use such information to regulate
our lives.
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Naturalist intelligence
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The capacity to make consequential distinctions in
nature—between one plant and another, among
animals, clouds, mountains, and the like.
Scientist Charles Darwin had naturalist intelligence
in abundance.
Most of us no longer use our naturalist intelligence
to survive in the jungle or the forest.
It is likely that our entire consumer culture is based
on our naturalist capacity to differentiate one car
make from another, one sneaker from another, and
the like.
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Gardner claimed that the eight intelligences
rarely operate independently.
They are used at the same time and tend to
complement each other as people develop
skills or solve problems.
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These intelligences, according to Howard
Gardner, are amoral (not doing the right
thing)
They can be put to constructive or destructive
use.
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Eight kinds of intelligence would allow eight
ways to teach, rather than one.
This would allow children more ways to learn
and express themselves.
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Review
List the eight intelligences and give an example
of each.
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