CH 5- Individual Differences and Special Education Needs

5 Distinctive Qualities of Intelligence

Adaptive → flexibility to respond to a variety of situations 

Learning ability → intelligence in a particular domain determines how quickly one learns in that domain 

Use of prior knowledge → helps to understand new situations 

Many different mental processes → interaction and coordination 

Culture specific → not necessarily defined the same way across all cultures 

Theoretical Perspectives of Intelligence- Charles Spearman

Theory of g

Early 1900s

Believed there is a general factor of intelligence/ a single overarching reasoning ability

More narrow abilities/ specific factors include problem solving and abstract reasoning

Is supported by many psychologists and theorists

Theoretical Perspectives of Intelligence- Raymond Cattell

Mid-1900s

Examined Personality factors

2 components of generalized intelligence:

• Fluid Intelligence → Ability to acquire new knowledge

  • able to quickly adapt to new situations

  • is mostly biological

• Crystallized Intelligence → knowledge and skills are accumulated from experiences, schooling, and culture

  • impacted by heredity and environment

Theoretical Perspectives of Intelligence- Robert Sternberg

1990s- 2000s

Triarchic Theory of Intelligence → People are intelligent in 3 different domains

• analytical

• creatively

• practically

Theoretical Perspectives of Intelligence- Howard Gradner

Multiple Intelligences

• Linguistic → language

• Logical-mathematical → reason logically

• Spatial → manipulate visual objects

• Musical

• Body-kinesthetics → use of one’s body

• Interpersonal → learning with other people

• Intrapersonal → being introspective/ looking at own self

• Naturalist → patterns in nature