Defining IntelligenceJazmin Lopez

Extra Credit

11/11/2014

What is Intelligence?

There have been many

attempts to define the meaning

of intelligence. There are

several ways to measure and

determine intelligence.

Howard Gardner proposed the theory of

multiple intelligences, which argues that

each kind of intelligence is independent of

each other and a person can do poorly in

one area but excel in another.

What is Intelligence?

According to Gardner, a human intellectual competence must entail:

• Set of skills for problem solving

• Solve genuine problems or difficulties

• Create an effective product

• Potential for finding or creating problems

• Thereby laying the groundwork for the acquisition of new knowledge

Surprisingly, every person is similar, in

that we all need to eat, drink, think

deep thoughts, plan excursions, and

seek our goals. But, even then, we are

all different. Therefore, measuring

intelligence is broken down into tests

of intelligence, and tests of aptitude

and/or achievement.

Aptitude Test

A test designed to predict a person’s

future performance

It is the capacity to learn

Measures verbal and mathematical

abilities

Examples

ACT American college test.

SAT-Scholastic assessment test.

Assessing Intelligence

David Wechsler, considered

intelligence to be the capacity to

understand one’s world and the

resourcefulness to cope with its

challenges. It is not about how much

you know, but effectively one uses

that information.

The Stanford-Binet test is by far the

most influential and traditional way to

measure intelligence. It measures

judgement, comprehension, and

reasoning.

Robert Sternberg, proposed the Triarchic Theory,

which argues that there are three facets that make up

intelligence

1. Analytical Intelligence

2. Practical Intelligence

3. Emotional Intelligence

4. Creative Intelligence

5. Emotional Intelligence

The argument

Nature or Nurture?

The nature argument

All people are not born with equal potential or capacity

for intelligence.

Thus, humans are a product of their gene pool and

environment cannot increase what is created by

nature.

The nurture argument

All people, except those born mentally retarded, are

born with equal potential or capacity for intelligence.

Thus, humans are born a “blank tablet”

Ultimately, we are all

judged by what we

know and the

information we

retain. It is this

information that

shapes who we are

and our

personalities.

CitationCommunicating Critical Thinking by Jack

Sterk and Jim Marteney