What is intelligence?
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Think of the smartest person you know.
– Why did you pick that person?
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Think of some other intelligent people.
– What makes them different?
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Intelligence is hard to nail down.
Official Definition
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Intelligence – The ability to learn from one’s
experiences, acquire knowledge, and use
resources effectively in adapting to new
situations or solving problems.
Theories of Intelligence
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Spearman, 1904:
– Two primary intellectual abilities
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General intelligence (g factor)
– Overall Reasoning & Problem solving
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Specific intelligence (s factor)
– Excellence in task-specific abilities
 e.g. music or math
More Theories of Intelligence
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Sternberg’s triarchic theory.
– Identifies 3 distinct kinds of intelligence
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Analytical, Creative, and Practical
Gardner’s theory of multiple
intelligences.
– Identifies 9 different types of intelligence
Sternberg’s Multiple
Intelligences
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Spatial (i.e. Solving puzzles)
Linguistic (i.e. Reading and writing)
Logical (i.e. Mathematics)
Kinesthetic (i.e. Timing and hand-eye coordination.
Musical (i.e. Sensitivity to sounds)
Interpersonal - Interaction with others
Intrapersonal (i.e. Self-reflection)
Naturalistic - Awareness of natural surroundings
Existential - Spiritual or religious intelligence
Measuring Intelligence
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Stanford-Binet: Intelligence Quotient
– Intelligence can be identified by dividing
mental age by chronological age and
multiplying by 100.
– IQ = (MA/CA)*100
Example: a 10 year old thinks like a 15 year
old. His IQ is (15/10)*100, or 150.
 Allows us to make comparisons based on age.
 Intended to measure learning ability, not
what is already known.
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It’s Not Perfect
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Problems with IQ:
– Originally designed for children
– What happens when we measure the IQ
of adults?
– What’s the IQ of someone 120 years old?
Wechsler’s Response
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Wechsler developed new tests.
– He targeted three specific age groups.
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)
 Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
(WISC)
 Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of
Intelligence (WPPSI)
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Bigger Problems
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IQ tests have a cultural bias.
– Tests often draw on past experience.
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Redden-Simmons “Rap” test.
– Language differences.
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Picture-only IQ tests.
Individual Differences
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Mental Retardation:
– IQ is 70, or lower.
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Giftedness:
– IQ is 130, or higher.
Mental Retardation
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Developmentally delayed - condition in
which a person’s behavioral and cognitive
skills exist at an earlier developmental stage
than the skills of others who are the same
chronological age. A more acceptable term
for mental retardation.
– A 20 year old acts like a 10 year old.
– (10/20)*100. Their IQ is 50.
Mental Retardation
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Levels of developmental delay
– Mild: 55-70 IQ
– Moderate: 40-55 IQ
– Severe: 25-40 IQ
– Profound: Below 25 IQ
Mental Retardation
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What does it mean to have a low IQ?
Mental Retardation
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Causes:
– Deprived Environment
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Inadequate healthcare; Under-stimulation.
– Chromosome & Genetic Disorders
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Down Syndrome & Trisomy 21: each cell in
the body has three copies of chromosome 21,
instead of two. Trisomy 21 is not inherited.
– Dietary Deficiencies
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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; Malnutrition
Giftedness
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Gifted - the 2 percent of the population
falling on the upper end of the normal curve
and typically possessing an IQ of 130 or
above.
Giftedness
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Genetic predictors of giftedness.
Heredity, Environment, &
Intelligence
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Stronger correlations are found between IQ
scores as genetic relatedness increases.
Heritability of IQ is estimated to be .50.
However, genes always interact with
environmental factors to determine IQ. In
some extreme cases, the environment can
modify even very heritable traits.
– i.e. Feral Children
Emotional Intelligence
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Emotional Intelligence – Awareness and
ability to manage one’s own emotions as
well as the ability to be self-motivated, able
to feel what others feel, and socially skilled.
– Can you think of anyone that has plenty of “book
smarts,” but no common sense?
Kim Peek
Emotional Intelligence
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So, are gifted people weird?
What about “Mad Scientists?”
Lewis M. Terman (1921):
– 1,528 gifted children in a longitudinal study.
– He found that gifted children were socially well
adjusted and often skilled leaders.
– He found that the gifted were not more
susceptible to mental illness, but more resilient.
– Typically, they grew into successful adults.
Emotional Intelligence
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Criticisms
– Terman’s study has been criticized for a
lack of objectivity because he became too
involved in the lives of his participants,
even to the point of interfering on their
behalf.