Psychology 101: What Are The Components In Intelligence? A Different Explanation For Multiple Intelligences

In this psychology 101 article, we look at what are the components of intelligence. Fundamentally, taken from Binet's Intelligence Quotient to Howard Gardner's ideas of Multiple Intelligences, this research is still evolving.

However, has made significant advances in the realms of education and, in many ways, health practice and it's learning.

Before we start, we always like to remind the reader of what Psychology is:

Psychology Definition

As this is a psychology 101 based article, I will start by providing a ‘working definition’ of psychology as a term:

‘Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour of humans and animals.’

Psychologists concentrate on what is observable and measurable in a person’s behaviour. This includes the biological processes in the body, although, the mind is central to the subject.

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There is more to intelligence than just I.Q. tests. Logic might be clever, but that doesn't exclude genius in other forms.

From creative writing, fine art to an eye for detail within the building industries, for example, are all valid forms of intelligence.

We are all geniuses with learning difficulties and it is intelligence within a niche which makes us who we are by what we produce. Grading people is, therefore, a social construction based upon what skill is valued the most at any given time.

Past measurements of intelligence has been traditionally made on the basis of Binet's IQ (intelligence quotient). Tests in this format can be considered culturally biased and can be taught and learned in order to improve the scores.

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An example of this is measurement of Jamaican immigrants into the UK in the 1950’s. Because they scored poorly in the realms of Intelligence Quotient tests, an assumption and stereotype was founded.

It was commonly thought that all black people were of an overall lower intelligence and, therefore, inferior to whites. However, this was culturally biased because black immigrants had been educated very differently – how can anyone pass an IQ. test when they haven’t learned to read or know the context for which the questions were designed from?

As you can see, these tests are very limited and biased in measuring how smart people are.

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Howard Gardner is a Harvard University Researcher. In 1983, he developed and showcased his theory of multiple intelligences. He questioned an emphasises on intelligence as traditionally thought of by Binet and the standard Binet-Stanford tests (you can read more about Binet and Intelligence here).

The idea that intelligence was just to do with problem solving, seemed too much like putting all the intelligence eggs in one basket, so to speak. Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences builds upon Binet's ideas.

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There were a further 8 different sets of intelligences which no one had measured according to Gardner. This idea had a profound impact in education and the world’s view in the understanding of a holistic view of intelligence in human beings. His contribution might be considered on par with the forementioned Binet.

If in education, the teaching is targeted at one type of person, i.e. the logical mathematical student, then all the other types of student tend to be left behind. Intelligence is more than just logical. It is interpersonal, creative, exploratory, as well as academic.

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An educational system, like Montessori for example, that tap into all varieties of individuals aim to discover and nurture the best in student's talents.

Gardner, therefore, highlights the importance in such intellectual diversity and celebrates what individuals are good at.

His theory on multiple intelligences is a good way to categorize these talents, thereby providing a basis for good teaching methods adaptable to individual need.

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Howard Gardner's publication Frames of Mind (1983) outlines the various manifestations of intelligence. These consist of the following:

• Logical Mathematical Intelligence - The ability to think logically and solve mathematical problems. The type of intelligence that Binet identifies (IQ).

This is the ability to analyse problems, solve puzzles and understand direct patterns. People who have this find processing logic and can reason across all spectrums. People like Stephen Hawking and Einstein are great examples of those that possess this intelligence.

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• Linguistic Intelligence & Verbal Intelligence - Learning, using and comprehending the written or spoken words.

The ability to use language as an aid to thinking in communication. People with this intelligence can use language powerfully and are great speakers. People like Martin Luther King and Adolf Hitler (example - Nuremburg ), lawyers, writers and poets, all demonstrate this innate ability.

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• Naturalistic Intelligence - The ability to identify patterns in nature and determine how individual objects or beings fit into them. A great example of this person with naturalistic intelligence is Charles Darwin. He developed the idea on evolution in animals and managed to associate humans in the same context.

• Musical Intelligence - People with this ability are sensitive and have a great understanding of pitch, rhythm and sound. These people can be creative and experimental in all things auditory. They have a natural ability in playing and writing music. An example of true geniuses in this realm are Mozart, Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead.

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• Bodily & Kinesthetic Intelligence - People with this intelligence are supple, have great spatial awareness and are brilliant in coordination, balance and skill involving the body. People like footballers, gymnast's and acrobats are all clever in this area. With the ability to learn and execute physical movements, Eric Cantona is a prime example of genius in this area. However, take a look at these other clever footballers in this clip!
  

• Spatial Intelligence - These people have the ability to easily use and recognise patterns and space. Map readers and measurers come to mind when thinking about an example. They can use images that represent spatial relations and implement these ideas in real life. Charles Minard was a genius map maker in the 1800s and exemplifies this skill.

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• Interpersonal Intelligence - These people have a special awareness of empathy, can communicate and understand the needs of others. They might be viewed as charming and have a skill that makes them popular amongst people. The ability to communicate and engage effective in social relationships with others is a paramount skill for which Tony Blair and Bill Clinton demonstrate.
  

• Intrapersonal Intelligence - This is where there is an understanding and accepting oneself. It is the ability in knowing yourself and accepting your limitations as well as your strengths. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and self actualisation provides confidence with a good self perception of image. Buddha demonstrates a great example of this.

• (Existential Intelligence - The Intelligence of big questions. For example, 'Who am I?', 'What is love?', 'Why do people die?', 'Is there more to life?'. These are people that are philosophers and thinkers. However, Gardner calls this his on-going project as he looks at more measurable evidence to test this. This is why I have placed this point in brackets.)

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People are a hotch-potch, or mixture, of all these intelligences. Some are greater and some of lesser degrees. All these are contained within one individual, so making standardised learning of each one of Gardner’s categories more complex.

'Think of several relatively independent computers, not a single all purpose one'. (Gardner, 2008, Quote - 25 years of Multiple Intelligences at Harvard University).

We are all examples of Multiple Intelligences and these are what might be thought of as components of intelligence.

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In this psychology 101 article, we discussed the idea of Multiple Intelligences by Gardner. This theory gives psychologists and educationalists something to build upon. Psychology theory is something that starts from an idea and then measured. It is, essentially, an evolving, changing thing that becomes updated over time - as and when new research techniques and technologies become paramount. Components of intelligence are multi-layered, as I hope that I have managed to outline effectively in this article. These facets make us the individual's that we are. By understanding intelligence in this way, we can strive to improve our potential by developing learning tools to assist in fulfilling this.

© This work is covered under Creative Commons License

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Disclaimer

Use This Psychology 101 article at your own risk. This Psychology article does not give medical or psychological advice, neither does it give legal opinions and advice.  Any action or outcome that may result from this article is the sole responsibility of the reader.  This article is assumes no responsibility or legal claim against it.