Intelligence: Theories of Intelligence

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A typical dictionary definition of intelligence is “the capacity to acquire and apply knowledge.” Intelligence includes the ability to benefit from past experience, act purposefully, solve problems, and adapt to new situations. Intelligence can also be defined as “the ability that intelligence tests measure.” There is a long history of disagreement about what actually constitutes intelligence.

The G Factor

Charles Spearman proposed a general intelligence factor, g, which underlies all intelligent behavior. Many scientists still believe in a general intelligence factor that underlies the specific abilities that intelligence tests measure. Other scientists are skeptical, because people can score high on one specific ability but show weakness in others.

Eight Types of Intelligence

In the 1980s and 1990s, psychologist Howard Gardner proposed the idea of not one kind of intelligence but eight, which are relatively independent of one another. These eight types of intelligence are:

Linguistic: spoken and written language skills
Logical–mathematical: number skills
Musical: performance or composition skills
Spatial: ability to evaluate and analyze the visual world
Bodily-kinesthetic: dance or athletic abilities
Interpersonal: skill in understanding and relating to others
Intrapersonal: skill in understanding the self
Nature: skill in understanding the natural world

Gardner believes that each of these domains of intelligence has inherent value but that culture and context may cause some domains to be emphasized over others. Critics of the idea of multiple intelligences maintain that these abilities are talents rather than kinds of intelligence.

Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

Also in the 1980s and 1990s, Robert Sternberg proposed a triarchic theory of intelligence that distinguishes among three aspects of intelligence:

Componential intelligence: the ability assessed by intelligence tests
Experiential intelligence: the ability to adapt to new situations and produce new ideas
Contextual intelligence: the ability to function effectively in daily situations

Emotional Intelligence

Some researchers distinguish emotional intelligence as an ability that helps people to perceive, express, understand, and regulate emotions. Other researchers maintain that this ability is a collection of personality traits such as empathy and extroversion, rather than a kind of intelligence.