Theories of intelligence

What is intelligence? Psychologists have proposed many theories.

Psychometric theories (based on measuring abilities with tests):

• Alfred Binet: intelligence as one general ability (a uni-factor theory).
• Charles Spearman: a general factor (g) used in all mental tasks, plus specific factors (s) for particular tasks (two-factor theory).
• Louis Thurstone: seven primary mental abilities, such as verbal comprehension, numerical ability, spatial relations and memory.
• Arthur Jensen: Level I (associative learning, like rote memory) and Level II (cognitive competence: reasoning and problem-solving).
• J.P. Guilford: the structure-of-intellect model, with three dimensions: operations (what we do), contents (what we think about) and products (the result). Together they make 180 cells.

Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences: there are eight independent intelligences: linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinaesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal and naturalistic. They are independent, but they work together in solving problems: a dancer uses bodily, musical and spatial intelligence at once.

Robert Sternberg's triarchic theory has three parts:

• Componential (analytical): analysing information to solve problems;
• Experiential (creative): using past experience creatively to handle new situations;
• Contextual (practical): dealing with everyday life and adapting to the environment: 'street smartness'.

Information-processing approach: the PASS model, by J.P. Das, Jack Naglieri and Kirby, looks at how the mind works. Its units:

• Arousal and Attention;
• Simultaneous and Successive processing;
• Planning.

They developed a test battery, the Cognitive Assessment System (CAS), to measure these.

The big idea: there are many ways to be intelligent.