Intelligence Flashcards
What are some different definitions of intelligence?
Ability to carry out abstract thinking
Ability to resolve genuine problems or difficulties as they are encountered
Reflects survival skills of species, beyond those associated with basic psychological processes
What do people think intelligence is?
Non-psychologists:
Practical problem solving ability
Verbal ability to articulate ideas
Social competence.
Psychologists:
Verbal intelligence
Problem solving ability
Practical intelligence
- A lot of consistency even though they use different terms*
- Cultural interpretations may vary*
What is the cross-cultural applicability of intelligence?
If intelligence helps people adapt and manage tasks, it should be cross-culturally applicable; but what a society understands as intelligence is linked to their particular ecology and social structure.
Different culture means there are different circumstances that people need to adapt to.
What is the definition of intelligence based on its nature?
Intelligence is the application of cognitive skills and knowledge to learn, solve problems and obtain ends that are valued by an individual or culture
It is multifaceted, functional and is defined and shape by the culture.
What is the evolutionary perspective of intelligence?
Problems are solved to allow adaptation and thus survival and reproduction.
Ability to experience own feelings and behaviours leads to better position to imagine others’ feelings and behaviour.
What is the significance of France Galton?
He was the father of differential psychology and was one of the earliest psychologists to theorise and apply the concept of intelligence to society of his time. He was the first to look at measurement in Psych.
He invented correlation and found numerical values important
What were the 4 classifications of intelligence developed by Frances Galton?
Eminence (high functioning)
Imbecile
Idiot
Moron
Were Frances Galton’s measurements successful?
They were not successful but the idea that mental capacity could be qualified could live on.
SPEARMAN’S TWO-FACTOR THEORY
What is it?
It arose from correlation and factor analysis of different intellectual task (how different variables group together)
Found correlation between individuals scores on different ability tests.
An individuals performance on an intelligence test is determine by two factors (g) and (s)
SPEARMAN’S TWO-FACTOR THEORY
What are general abilities?
A single latent factor that underlies all other abilities and is predictive of test scores.
SPEARMAN’S TWO-FACTOR THEORY
What are specific abilities?
A range of specific abilities, such as mathematical or verbal ability.
SPEARMAN’S TWO-FACTOR THEORY
What is general intelligence (g)?
General ability for complex mental work.
SPEARMAN’S TWO-FACTOR THEORY
What is specific abilities (s) in terms of the theory?
Unique to a test/sub test e.g. maths or verbal skills.
Spearman was less concerned about studying (s) as it varied for each test of intellectual ability
What are Thurstone’s 7 Primary Mental Abilities?
Word fluency Verbal Comprehension Spatial ability Perceptual speed Numerical ability Inductive reasoning Memory
CATTELL & HORN
What is fluid intelligence (Gf)?
An inherent, non verbal capacity to learn and to solve problems. It is not reliant on the capacity of language.
It is used to adapt to new situations.
It is not as influenced by background as it is relatively free from cultural elements such as schooling, training, life experience.
CATTELL & HORN
What is crystallised intelligence (Gc)?
It is the accumulation of abilities learned through schooling or life experience.It is learned habitual response, heavily dependant on schooling or life experience.
It relates to thing actively taught to us e.g. vocabulary tests, tool identification tests for motor mechanics.
How does age influence intelligence?
Each form of intelligence is influenced by age differently age. Fluid intelligence is eventually override by crystallised intelligence ad it hinders our ability to generate our own ideas.
CATTELL-HORN-CARROLL
What is the Three-Stratum Theory?
It is a hierarchical model with 10 broad fluid and crystallised components on the top with greater than 70 sub-components below.
It is a very complex model that reflects the notion of multiple intelligences.
CATTELL-HORN-CARROLL
What are the 3 separate stratums?
Stratum III = higher order ‘g’ factor
Stratum II = Broader abilities
Stratum I = Narrow abilities
What is the speed of processing?
How rapidly a person can perform a mental task.
What is a knowledge base?
Information stored in long term memory.
What is the ability to acquire and apply mental processes?
Can a person acquire and use new mental strategies?
What is the information processing approach?
Assumes performance is normally distributed across a variety of intelligence relevant capacities.
Assumes performance on one capacity is weakly to moderately related to performance on other capacities.
Therefore person 1 might be better at A and B but person 2 might be better at C and D
STENBERG’S TRIARCHIC THEORY
What is it?
States that there are 3 components associated with intelligence:
Componential/Analytical Intelligence
Experiential/Creative Intelligence
Contextual/Practical Intelligence
STENBERG’S TRIARCHIC THEORY
What is Componential Intelligence?
Ability to think abstractly and process information effectively.
STENBERG’S TRIARCHIC THEORY
What is Experiential Intelligence?
Ability to formulate new ideas, and to combine seemingly unrelated facts or information.
STENBERG’S TRIARCHIC THEORY
What is contextual intelligence?
Ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Shape the environment to maximise strengths and compensate for weaknesses.
What is Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory?
Different societies value different intelligences. There are 8 different intelligences suggested: Bodily-Kinaesthetic (Body smart) Interpersonal (People Smart) Visual-Linguistic (word smart) Logical-Mathematical (Logic Smart) Naturalistic (Nature Smart) Intrapersonal (Self smart) Visual-Spatial (Picture smart) Musical (Music smart)
What are the criticisms of Gardner’s MI Theory?
Too broad
No test has been developed to measure this
Confounds talent with intelligence
Ignores correlation between conceptually distinct functions
Doesn’t describe underlying processes
May reflect personality factors
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
What is it?
The ability to perceive, appraise and express emotions accurately and appropriately.
Use emotions to facilitate thinking
Understand and analyse emotions and use emotional knowledge effectively
Regulate emotions to promote both emotional and intellectual growth
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
What does it involve?
Social skill –> Self-awareness –> Self regulation –> Self motivation –> empathy
They influence how we engage with emotional intelligence
BIOLOGICAL FACTORS
Does brain size matter?
There is a slight correlation between brain size and intelligence, but this is more due to activity, better nutrition etc.