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Intelligence

Mental capacity to learn from experiences, adapt to situations, and handle abstract concepts.

Factor Analysis

A family of statistical methods that represent relationships among an observed set of variables in terms of a hypothesized number of latent constructs or common factors.

Spearman's g

The concept that humans have one general intelligence with mental abilities similar to physical abilities.

Savant Syndrome

A rare condition where a person with developmental disorders has an amazing ability or talent.

L.L. Thurstone

Identified seven factors of intelligence including word fluency, verbal comprehension, spatial ability, and more.

Gardner's Multiple Intelligences

Theory that suggests a range of skills beyond traditional school smarts; includes logical, verbal, spatial, musical, kinesthetic, and more.

Sternberg's Theory of Three Intelligences

Includes analytical intelligence, creative intelligence, and practical intelligence.

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions effectively.

Brain Size Correlation with Intelligence

A +0.40 correlation exists between brain size and intelligence that decreases with age.

Intelligence Test

A method for assessing an individual's mental aptitudes and comparing them with others using numerical scores.

Mental Age

The age level of an individual's cognitive ability; 100 indicates parity with age group.

Stanford-Binet Test

A cognitive ability and intelligence test measuring fluid, quantitative, working, and visual reasoning.

IQ

A number used to express the relative intelligence of a person, calculated as mental age divided by physical age multiplied by 100.

Aptitude Tests

Tests designed to predict a person's future performance.

Achievement Tests

Tests intended to assess what a person has learned.

WAIS and WISC

Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale and Weschler's Intelligence Scale for Children; tests providing overall and separate scores.

Standardization

Uniform testing procedures that allow meaningful scores by comparison with a pretested group's performance.

Flynn Effect

An observed phenomenon where average intelligence scores on IQ tests have been increasing over time.

Reliability of Tests

The extent to which a test yields consistent results, assessed by various methods.

Validity of Tests

The extent to which a test measures or predicts what it's supposed to.

Down Syndrome

A condition characterized by mild to severe intellectual disability and physical disorders caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21.

Creativity

The ability to form novel ideas.

Genetic Influences in Intelligence

The heritability of intelligence increases through to adulthood.

Environmental Influences in Intelligence

Factors such as parenting, education, and nutrition that can affect intelligence.

Stereotype Threat

A negative stereotype that harms a group's performance on tasks.

Stereotype Lift

A positive stereotype that enhances a group's performance on tasks.

Fixed Mindset

The belief that abilities are unchangeable.

Growth Mindset

The belief that a person's intelligence and abilities can improve.