9.1 Defining and Measuring Intelligence

Question 1

general intelligence factor (g)

Answer 1

• the construct that the different abilities and skills measured on intelligence tests have in common

Question 2

specific intelligence (s)

Answer 2

• a measure of specific skills in narrow domains

Question 3

fluid intelligence

Answer 3

• the capacity to learn new ways of solving problems and performing activities

Question 4

crystallized intelligence

Answer 4

• the accumulated knowledge of the world we have acquired throughout our lives

Question 5

triarchic (three-part) theory of intelligence

Answer 5

proposes that people may display more or less analytical intelligence, creative intelligence, and practical intelligence

Question 6

convergent thinking

Answer 6

• thinking that is directed toward finding the correct answer to a given problem

Question 7

divergent thinking

Answer 7

• the ability to generate many different ideas for or solutions to a single problem

Question 8

autistic savants

Answer 8

• people who score low on intelligence tests overall but who nevertheless may have exceptional skills in a given domain, such as math, music, art, or in being able to recite statistics in a given sport

Question 9

standardization test

Answer 9

• giving it to a large number of people at different ages and computing the average score on the test at each age level

Question 10

Flynn effect

Answer 10

• observation that scores on intelligence tests worldwide have increased substantially over the past decades

Question 11

mental age

Answer 11

• the age at which a person is performing intellectually

Question 12

intelligence quotient (IQ)

Answer 12

• a measure of intelligence that is adjusted for age

Question 13

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

Answer 13

• the most widely used intelligence test for adults

Question 14

aptitude test

Answer 14

• designed to measure one‘s ability to perform a given task, for instance, to do well in college or in postgraduate training

Question 15

personnel selection

Answer 15

• the use of structured tests to select people who are likely to perform well at given jobs

Question 16

emotional intelligence

Answer 16

• the ability to accurately identify, assess, and understand emotions, as well as to effectively control one’s own emotions

Question 17

personal intelligence

Answer 17

• the capacity to understand the emotions, intentions, motivations, and desires of other people

Question 18

interpersonal intelligence

Answer 18

• the capacity to understand oneself, including one‘s emotions