Gardner's Multiple Intelligences
By T. M McDevitt|J. E. Ormrod — Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall Updated on Jul 20, 2010
Howard Gardner concedes that a general factor may very well exist in intelligence, but he questions its usefulness in
explaining people's performance in particular situations. In his view, children and adults have at least eight distinctly
different abilities or multiple intelligences. The table below lists and describes Gardner's multiple intelligences and provides
examples of relevant behaviors for each type of intelligence.
Type of Intelligencea
Examples of Relevant Behaviors
 Making persuasive arguments
Linguistic Intelligence
 Writing poetry
Ability to use language effectively
 Identifying subtle nuances in word meanings
 Solving mathematical problems quickly
Logical-Mathematical Intelligence
 Generating mathematical proofs
Ability to reason logically, especially in
 Formulating and testing hypotheses about observed
mathematics and science
phenomenab
 Conjuring up mental images
Spatial Intelligence
Ability to notice details of what one sees and to
 Drawing a visual likeness of an object
imagine and manipulate visual objects in one's
 Making fine discriminations among very similar
mind
objects
 Playing a musical instrument
Musical Intelligence
 Composing a musical work
Ability to create, comprehend, and appreciate
 Showing a keen awareness of the underlying
music
structure of music
 Dancing
Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
 Playing basketball
Ability to use one's body skillfully
 Performing pantomime
 Correctly perceiving another's mood
Interpersonal Intelligence
 Detecting another's underlying intentions and desires
Ability to notice subtle aspects of other people's
 Using knowledge of others to influence their
behaviors
thoughts and behaviors
 Discriminating among such similar emotions as
sadness and regret
Intrapersonal Intelligence
Awareness of one's own feelings, motives, and
 Identifying the motives guiding one's own behavior
desires
 Using self-knowledge to relate more effectively with
others
 Identifying members of particular plant or animal
species
Naturalist Intelligence
 Classifying natural forms (e.g., rocks, types of
Ability to recognize patterns in nature and
mountains)
differences among natural objects and life-forms
 Applying one's knowledge of nature in such
activities as farming, landscaping, or animal training
Sources: Gardner, 1983, 1993, 1999, 2000a; Gardner & Hatch, 1990.
a
Gardner has also suggested the possibility of an existential intelligence dedicated to philosophical and spiritual issues, but he
acknowledges that evidence is weaker for it than for the eight intelligences described here.
b
This example may remind you of Piaget's theory of cognitive development. Many of the stage-relevant characteristics that
Piaget described fall within the realm of logical-mathematical intelligence.
Excerpted From:
Child Development and Education
http://www.education.com/reference/article/Gardners-multiple-intelligences/