People On The Test

Francis Galton

• Founder of eugenics

• Advocated selective breeding to enhance intelligence in the human gene pool

• Believed heredity influenced intelligence and character

Eugenics

Attempts to engineer the human gene pool by breeding intellectually superior people

Charles Spearman

• Proposed general intelligence (g)

• Believed intelligence is a single, underlying cognitive ability

• Theories led to the creation of standardized testing

General intelligence (g)

• Statistical factor analysis that indicates an individual’s overall mental capacity based upon a singular cognitive skill set

• Academic intellect usually applies across multiple subjects

Louis Thurston

• Founder of the primary mental abilities theory that argues that intelligence isn’t a single factor but 7 distinct abilities

• Theories led to the creation of the modern intelligence test that measures diverse abilities

7 factors of the primary mental abilities theory

• Numerical ability

• Spatial relations

• Associative memory

• Word vocabulary

• Verbal comprehension

• Inductive reasoning

• Perceptual processing speed

Raymond Cattell

• Added on to Spearman’s theory of general intelligence (g)

• Described general intelligence (g) as being composed of 2 forms

2 forms of general intelligence (g)

• Crystalized intelligence (gc)

• Fluid intelligence (gf)

Crystalized intelligence (gc)

• Knowledge gained and solidified through lifelong learning experiences

• Book smarts

Fluid Intelligence (gf)

• Flexibility of reasoning abilities, speed and efficiency of information processing

• Street smarts

Howard Gardner

• Founder of the theory of multiple intelligences that argues that intelligence is based on 8 learning abilities

• Described intelligence as unique  individual learning abilities and  develop according to cultural influences

• Fixed modern education by emphasizing diverse learning strengths and creating more inclusive, personalized teaching methods

8 learning abilities of the theory of multiple intelligences

• Logical and mathematical: Problem solving

• Linguistic: Reading, writing, and speech

• Musical: Composition and appreciation

• Bodily: Kinesthetic and physical performances

• Spatial relations: 3D mapping and orientation

• Naturalistic: Recognizing patterns of nature

• Interpersonal: Social skills and communication

• Intrapersonal: Self perception and metacognition

Robert Sternberg

• Founder of the triarchic theory of successful intelligence

• Said that intelligence is displayed through practical problem solving

Triarchic theory of successful intelligence

• Focuses on the process of problem solving, not the final product

• The way in which one solves a problem is more important than the solution itself

• Includes 3 essential cognitive abilities and people with high intelligence effectively synthesize all 3 forms of intelligence when problem solving

3 essential cognitive abilities of the triarchic theory of successful intelligence

• Analytical intelligence

• Practical intelligence

• Creative intelligence

Analytical intelligence

• Analysis

• Evaluation

• Critical thinking

Practical intelligence

Applying knowledge to real world situations

Creative intelligence

• Innovation

• Imagination

• Thinking outside the box

Alfred Binet

Collaborated with Theodore Simon and created the Binet Simon intelligence test

Binet Simon intelligence test

• Foundation of modern intelligence assessment

• Test measured multiple cognitive abilities, not just aptitude or achievement

Lewis Terman

• Added on to Binet’s test and revised scoring calculation to identify cognitive disabilities in children

• Created the Stanford Binet intelligence scale

• Educational and developmental psychologist

Stanford Binet intelligence scale

• First clinically used intelligence test

• Standardized a classification system to label intellectual disabilities in children

• Introduced the intelligence quotient (IQ) formula, creating the term IQ

Benjamin Whorf

• Founder of the linguistic determinism hypothesis

• Cultural sociologist

• Linguist

Linguistic determinism hypothesis

• Language is used for more than external communication

• language provides the neurological framework for internal human cognition (Introspection)

• Language is the code that constructs the neural pathways needed for thought and memory

• Human cognition and intelligence is determined by language

Noam Chomsky

• Founder of the language activation device (LAD)

• Developmental psychologist

• Linguist

Language activation device (LAD)

• Brain is biologically wired to learn language

• Learning can only happened when brain structures have matured like the broca’s, and wernicke’s areas

• LAD is highly responsive in early childhood (2 to 5) but gradually decays as the brain ages

• If primary language is not acquired by puberty, the LAD will decompose and the ability to learn a language will become impossible

Eric Lenneberg

• Added on to Chomsky’s theories of LAD

• Founder of the critical period hypothesis of linguistics

• Developmental psychologist

• Neuropsychologist

• Linguist

Critical period hypothesis of linguistics

• If a primary language isn’t learned in the critical period of early childhood, language learning may become impossible

• Lack of early language exposure can lead to severe cognitive disabilities

• If language isn’t acquired by puberty, the brain may become cognitively and intellectually impaired