Psychology: Intelligence Theories and Definitions

Vocabulary flashcards covering core definitions, major theorists, and concepts of intelligence from the lecture notes.

Intelligence

The ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations.

General Intelligence

According to Spearman and others, an underlying factor that influences all mental abilities and is therefore measured by every task on an intelligence test.

Factor Analysis

A statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items (factors) on a test; used to identify different dimensions of performance that underlie a person's total score.

Charles Spearman v. Louis Thurstone

A theoretical contrast where Thurstone gave 56 different tests to people and mathematically identified clusters of primary mental abilities, while Spearman identified clusters using a single intelligence score.

Fluid Intelligence

Our ability to reason speedily and abstractly, which tends to decrease with age, especially during late adulthood (e.g., solving a new game without any prior instructions).

Crystallized Intelligence

Our accumulated knowledge and verbal skills, which tends to increase with age (e.g., remembering math formulas, historical dates, or understanding grammar rules).

Cattell-Horn-Carroll Theory

The theory that our intelligence is based on $g$ as well as specific abilities, bridged by $G_f$ (fluid intelligence) and $G_c$ (crystallized intelligence).