Intelligence Flashcards
Intelligence
The ability to direct one’s thinking, adapt to one’s changing environment, and learn from experience
Psychological Factors
A dedicated mechanism that predicts performance in a specialized domain but not others
Individual subcomponents that come together to predict ones performance ability
Intelligence as Two Factors
Views intelligence as determined by two factors: General Intelligence Factor (g) and Specific Factors (s) where the amount of (g) ultimately determines the overall amount of intelligence one has; This theory is not accepted today
General Intelligence Factor (g)
The hypothesized single factor of intelligence that explains aptitude in all domains of knowledge
Specific Factors (s)
The hypothesizes separate factors of intelligence that explain aptitude in specialized domains of knowledge on top of (g)
Independent Factor Theories
Views intelligence as many non-overlapping abilities, each unrelated to the others; Intelligence as many factors; Understands that there are multiple types of intelligence; This theory is not accepted today (the correlation of results is often due to confounds)
Hybrid Theories
Views intelligence as a group of interrelated factors, with (g) at the top, various middle-level abilities after, and specific tasks underneath; Understands intelligence as multiple parts with g being overall volume regulator with mid lvl abilities (subcomponents of g; fluid & crystallized) which are ability based; This theory is accepted today
Fluid Intelligence (Gf)
Refers to the learning of new information or dealing with novel situations; Ability to adapt to environments
Crystalized Intelligence (Gc)
Refers to drawing on experiences from the past and applying it; Ability to take knowledge from past (experiences) to solve current issues
Standardized Test
A test that 1) has highly controlled and guided administration protocol & 2) gives a score that shows your performance relative to the general population; Allows for norming of a popualtion
Intelligence Quotient (IQ)
The standard unit of intelligence; 100 is the average score, and 15 is one standard deviation; Is designed to follow a bell curve
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV)
The most popular test used today, based on a hybrid model of intelligences
Components of the WAIS-IV Test
Components:
Full Scale (IQ/g)
→ General ability index {verbal comprehension; Perceptual Reasoning}
→ Cognitive Proficiency Index {Working Memory; Perceptual Speed}
Full Scale (IQ/g)
x
General Ability Index
Measures a person’s intellectual abilities in the absence of time pressure; Mid lvl of crystalized intelligence score;
Breaks into: Verbal Comprehension & Perceptual Reasoning
Verbal Comprehension
Ability to understand things; Task under the General Ability Index
Perceptual Reasoning
Ability to understand visuals/patterns?; Task under the General Ability Index
Cognitive Proficiency Index
Measures a person’s intellectual speed and capacity for processing; Done under intense time pressure; Mid lvl of fluid intelligence score;
Breaks into: Working Memory & Perceptual Speed
Working Memory
Ability to ____; Task under the Cognitive Proficiency Index
Perceptual Speed
Ability to ____; Task under the Cognitive Proficiency Index
Raven’s Progressive Matrices
A non-verbal intelligence test based on matching pictures that follow particular types of rules; useful for cross-cultural research; thought to be measure of fluid intelligence
Issues w/ IQ (4)
- Cultural Bias
- Education
- Test-taking ability
- Stereotypes*
Cultural Bias - different definitions of intelligence across different cultures (abstract vs practical)
Education - intelligence tests & school content overlap
Test-taking ability - measuring intelligence or test taking ability?
Stereotypes - self-fulfilling prophecy; cultural stereotypes on test ability & intelligence
Genetics Approach to Intelligence
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Individual Differences
Variability in a psychological trait across people
Reasons for Individual Differences
- Genetic Variability
- Environmental Variability
- Interaction between genetic & environmental variability
Genetic Variability
Refers to how people differ in their genetic makeup; A source of individual differences
Environmental Variability
Refers to how people live in environments; People have different lives, grow up with different family styles, go to different schools which all in turn largely impact their psychological states
Interaction of Genetic and Environmental Variability
Genetic effects can change environments; Environments can change genetic expression (Epigenetics)
Issues w/ Genetic Approach (to Intelligence) (3)
- Genetic Determinism
- No single gene predicts a single trait
- Genetics predict broad patterns not singular/indiv ones
phenotypes/genes can be turned on/off; Genetic risk for a condition =/= gene will be expressed
Genetic effects = complicated; interact w/ one another & environment
Work at lvl of population not individual
Genetic Determinism
The (false) belief that if a person carries some set of genes, that their expressed phenotype is fixed and immutable.
Genetic Prediction
Is influenced by:
1. The genetic range
2. The strength of environmental influence
Genetic Range
The possibility of phenotypes that could be expressed
Strength (of environment)
How strong the influence of the environment has to be to affect that expression
Strong vs Moderate vs Weak Genetic Predictions
Strongly predicted by genes: low range of expression
Moderately predicted: medium range of expression
Weakly predicted: high range of expression
Quasi-Experiments
The experimental “manipulation” occurs naturally, but has no random assignment
Identical (Monozygotic) Twins
Twins sharing 100% of their genes
Fraternal (Dizygotic) Twins
Twins sharing 50% of their genes
Twin Experiments & Intelligence
Finds that intelligence is moderately ranged by genes and moderately affected by environment
Impact of Environment (on Intelligence)
- Education
- Birth weight
- Birth order
Education: quality & years of education = strongest predict of g, Gf & Gc
Birth Weight: small but positive correlation (third variable prob)
Birth Order: first-born children have marginally higher IQ than younger siblings
*If we want to generally increase performance on intelligence tests, increasing educational opportunities is the most important factor
Age Differences (in Intelligence)
Relative stable with age; after 50 Gf tends to decrease; Gc is stable (except in dementia)
The Flynn Effect
Average intelligence increases with each successive generation; younger generations have higher IQs; Due to: improved environments, education & test-taking abilities
Gender Differences (in Intelligence)
Identical avg intelligence; tendency - men better at spatial intelligence, women - better at emotional intelligence
Due to socialization differences; difference disappearing (showing environmental effect)
Ethnicity Differences (in Intelligence)
Asian Canadians typically outperform White Canadians, who outperform both Black and First Nation Canadians; Average IQ scores in Global South are lower than in Global North; Differences range between 2 IQ points to 15 IQ points.
Lots of 3rd variables (education, english ability, translation, sociocultural differences in environments)
*Difference within given group is higher than differences between different groups
General Differences (in Intelligence)
Differences in intelligence are due to sociological reasons or third variables; Differences within groups are significantly higher than between; interested in how we can eliminate sociocultural barriers to people maximizing the range of their expressed intelligence
Early Intelligence Tests
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Problems w/ Early Intelligence Tests
- intelligence measures as achievement
- goal to quickly segregate people into roles/classes
- not standardized & used for a specific purpose
Phrenology
the (discredited) attempt to assess each person’s intelligence by measuring differences in “specialized” brain size through bumps on the skull
Stanford-Binet Test
The first widely used intelligence test for school children, developed in 1904 in France and then translated into English
Army Alpha/Beta Tests
Two prominent US Army tests for determining each person’s capability as a soldier, leadership, etc.
Achievement vs Aptitude
Achievement = what you already know (measure of Gc); reliant on data of what people have the opportunity to learn
Aptitude = measure of potential
Eugenics
Belief/Practice to improve the genetic quality of a human population (through elimination of “poor” genes)
Claims of Eugenics (3)
Claim #1: intelligence is highly predicted by genetic variation → True: but this fact is not very interesting.
Claim #2: differences in intelligence are due to group genetic differences → False: differences in groups could only be due to genetics if environments are equal.
Claim #3: intelligence is the best predictor of life outcomes and success → Maybe: only true if there are no third variables
The Bell Curve
A 1994 book advocating for the radical changes in public policy in order to protect high IQ individuals and reduce reproduction amongst low IQ individuals
Claims of The Bell Curve (4)
- Intelligence is stable, largely heritable, and reliably measured by IQ tests.
- Intelligence tests are valid and unbiased.
- Intelligence is the best predictor of life outcomes, job and school success, etc.; Correlational claim; Directional issue - intelligence → school or school → intelligence
- Welfare allows low IQ individuals to have more children, decreasing the overall fitness of our society; Anecdotal data; Can never test either
