100_8.2_Intelligence.pdf

8.2 Intelligence Overview

• Lecture focusing on intelligence, including definitions and theories.

Intelligence Questions

Key Questions

• Is intelligence one general ability or several specific abilities?

• Are there other forms of intelligence?

• Is intelligence neurologically measurable?

Assessing Intelligence

History of Intelligence Testing

• Origins of intelligence testing addressed.

• Modern tests and their principles are explored.

Dynamics of Intelligence

• Discussion on whether intelligence is stable or subject to change over time.

• Examination of extremes of intelligence.

Concept of General Intelligence

• Inquiry into whether there is an inborn general mental capacity.

• The challenge of quantifying intelligence meaningfully.

Definition of Intelligence

• Defined as the ability to learn from experience and adapt to new situations.

• In research, intelligence is typically what intelligence tests assess, reflecting "school smarts."

Models of Intelligence

General Intelligence (g)

• Charles Spearman's work (1863-1945) introduced the concept of general intelligence.

• Spearman's factor analysis approach identifies clusters of mental abilities.

Multiple Intelligences

• Howard Gardner's theory (1983, 1999) advocates for multiple intelligences:

  • Brain damage may affect specific abilities without impairing others.

  • Savant syndrome illustrates differing abilities unrelated to general intelligence.

Gardner's Eight Intelligences

1. Linguistic – T. S. Eliot (poet)

2. Logical-mathematical – Albert Einstein (scientist)

3. Musical – Igor Stravinsky (composer)

4. Spatial – Pablo Picasso (artist)

5. Bodily-kinesthetic – Martha Graham (dancer)

6. Intrapersonal – Sigmund Freud (psychiatrist)

7. Interpersonal – Mahatma Gandhi (leader)

8. Naturalist – Charles Darwin (naturalist)

Emotional Intelligence

Components of Emotional Intelligence

• Abilities include:

  • Perceiving emotions

  • Understanding emotions

  • Using emotions effectively

Reading Body Language

• Key cues:

  • Physical proximity

  • Head position

  • Eye contact

  • Gesture

  • Feet movement

Neurological Aspects of Intelligence

Brain Size and Intelligence

• Some studies suggest a correlation (+.40) between brain size and intelligence.

Speed of Processing

• Higher intelligence linked to quicker perception of stimuli and faster response times.

Intelligence Testing Methodology

• Intelligence testing evaluates mental aptitudes and compares scores numerically.

Binet-Simon Test

• Alfred Binet and Théodore Simon’s development of a predictive test for children’s school success.

Stanford-Binet Test

• Lewis Terman adapted Binet’s test for American children.

• Introduction of the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) formula by William Stern.

Other Notable Tests

Wechsler Tests

• David Wechsler’s development of WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale) and WISC (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children).

• WAIS measures overall intelligence along with specific aspects related to it.

Sample Questions from WAIS

• General knowledge and arithmetic reasoning items.

Stability of Intelligence

• Discussion on whether intelligence is stable across a lifetime or generationally.

Age and Stability

• Intelligence scores stabilize around age seven.

Flynn Effect

• Noted increase in intelligence scores over the last 60 years, averaging a 27-point increase.

Nature vs. Nurture

• Ongoing debate on genetic versus environmental influences on intelligence.

Genetic Influence

• Studies on twins, families, and adoptees highlight genetic contributions to intelligence.

Correlation Observations

• Adopted children's verbal abilities show marginal correlation with adoptive parents.