psycho mod.7 part 2

Intelligence

What is the definition of intelligence?

Those who can think rationally, act purposefully, learn from experiences, and deal effectively with the environment.

What are the different theories of intelligence? How many and what specific intelligences does each theory include?

Spearman’s G factor: believed that there is one factor called general intelligence, and that one factor is how well you’ll perform on any test. General mental ability. Single measure of general cognitive ability

Cattell: Fluid: problem solving, speedy and abstract thinking, relatively uninfluenced by any kind of schooling or experience, decreases with age./ crystallized intelligence: knowledge and abilities as a result of experience, reflects schooling and experience, increases with age

Thurstone’s 7 mental abilities: thought that there were 7 different primary mental abilities ( verbal comprehension, word fluency, numerical fluency, spatial visualization, associative memory, perceptual speed, reasoning)

Gardner’s multiple intelligences: intelligence must be defined within the context of a culture. Relatively independent mental abilities. 9 distinct, independent intelligences (linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, spatial, body-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalist, spiritual-existential)

Sternberg’s Triarchic theory: three distinct forms of intelligence. Analytic (problem-solving) “book smarts”, creative (dealing with new situations), practical (adapting to the environment) “street smarts”

What is the difference between crystalized and fluid intelligence?

crystallized: characterized by acquired knowledge and the ability to retrieve it

fluid: ability to see complex relationships and solve problems

How is intelligence measured? Think about the specific tests that have been used to determine intelligence (Binet, Stanford-Binet, Army Alpha and Army Beta, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale)

Binet (French school children) : designed to compare children; “mental age,” one-on-one, various tests

Terman’s Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale: translated and revised Binet’s test for use in the US, standard intelligence test for a long time, introduction of the idea of IQ. IQ = mental age/ chronological age x 100

Yerkes ’ Army Alpha and Army Beta tests (military): first group tests of intelligence. Army Alpha (written), Army Beta (oral)

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (everyone): today’s test; subtests: verbal and performance; sensitive to cultural bias and learning disabilities; IQ is comparison to others your age; Flynn effect

What does IQ mean? How was IQ originally calculated? How is IQ derived now using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale?

Intelligence quotient. Used to be that mental age/chronological age x 100.

What is the Eugenics movement? How is it related to intelligence?

The belief that intelligence is inherited is the basis behind the idea of a master race. This is related because people believed that people could breed intelligence, and they believed that intelligence was found in white people

Define each component of good tests (Standardization, Norms, Reliability, Validity, Normal Distribution/Curve, etc.).

Standardize: give to a large number of people- representative of who the test was designed for. There are “norms,” or standards of comparison

. Follows the normal curve: allows us to know things about the test. There should be a range of scores from the test

The test will generate standard scores.

Reliability: consistency. You can retest and get a similar score.

Validity: does a test measure what it’s actually supposed to measure.

Understand the extremes of intelligence – intellectual disability and mental giftedness.

Intellectual disability is a generalized disorder ascribed to people who have an IQ below 70, who have experienced deficits since childhood, and who have trouble with basic life skills, such as dressing and feeding oneself and communicating with others

Having extremely high IQ is clearly less of a problem than having extremely low IQ, but there may also be challenges to being particularly smart. It is often assumed that schoolchildren who are labeled as “gifted” may have adjustment problems that make it more difficult for them to create social relationships.

What is the Flynn effect?

Observation that each generation has a significantly higher IQ than the previous generations

Is intelligence due to nature (genetics) or nurture (environment)?

range of reaction theory, there is an interaction of nature and nurture. Your genes do have some interaction with your intelligence, but nurture, or your environment, can have an effect on your intelligence in reference to your resources and the opportunities given.

What do we know about group differences in IQ scores?

For intelligence, it’s difficult to do, because we can’t compare two groups unless their development happened in the same environment.

What is stereotype threat?

Steele and Aaronson gave college students who were black and white the SAT test and told them different things, and it gave different results

Spencer, Steele, and Quinn gave difficult math questions to men and women and told them two different things, and there was a gender difference.

Stereotype effect on people. When threatened by being stereotyped: as a consequence, acting in accordance with the stereotype

What is creativity?

Ability to generate, create, or discover new ideas, solutions, and possibilities.

What is divergent thinking?

ability to think outside the box, to arrive at novel solutions to a problem

Convergent thinking?

providing correct or established answers to problems

What are learning disabilities?

Cognitive disorders affect different areas of cognition, particularly language or reading. Not the same thing as intellectual disabilities. Considered specific neurological impairments rather than global intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Dysgraphia?

learning disability that causes extreme difficulty in writing legibly

Dyslexia?

common learning disability in which letters are not processed properly by the brain