Week 5 Theories of Intelligence Flashcards
Identify some factors which can be used to measure intelligence.
- abstract reasoning
- general knowledge
- linguistic competence
- being quick-witted
- problem solving
- creativity and divergent thinking
- memory
- adaptability to environment
- capacity to acquire new knowledge
What is Spearman’s (1904) definition of intelligence?
A general ability to infer relations and correlates
What is Binet’s (1916) definition of intelligence
Tendency to take and maintain a definite direction; capacity to make adaptations for the purpose of attaining a desired end and power of auto criticism
What is Thurstone’s (1921) definition of intelligence?
The capacity to inhibit instinctive adjustments, flexibly, imagine different responses and realise modified instinctive adjustments into overt behaviour
What is Wechsler’s (1939) definition of intelligence
Aggregate or global capacity of the individual to act purposefully, to think rationally and to deal effectively with the environment
What is Sternberg’s (1985) definition of intelligence
Mental activities involved in purposive adaptation to, shaping of and selection of real-world environments relevant to one’s life
True or False: the concept of IQ (Intelligence Quotient) is exactly synonymous with intelligence?
False. it is ALMOST synonymous.
Who uses intelligence quotient and how is it graphically represented?
What is the mean and SD?
- Laypeople & academics
- Bell curve/ normal distribution.
- Mean of 100 and SD of 15
What does it mean for intelligence to be a “latent” construct?
A construct that comes about by making inferences. It cannot be directly measured and its conceptualisation is driven by underlying behaviour and measured by observation.
Since intelligence is a latent construct, how is it measured?
Behaviours are quantified/ measured in terms of individual differences on standardised performance tests.
Describe the psychometric approach of studying intelligence
- Intelligence can be measured by conducting tests.
- Intelligence theories are a result of data obtained from testing
Alfred Binet’s theory of intelligence defines intelligence as the combined capacity to: (3)
(find purpose + adaptability to maintain purpose)
1. find and maintain a definite direction/ purpose
- make necessary adjustments whilst trying to achieve purpose
- be willing to engage in self-criticism/ reflection to allow for adaptation
Which 4 components of intelligence are involved in Binet’s theory of intelligence?
(MARJ)
(MARJ)
- Memory
- Abstraction
- Reasoning
- Judgement
What is general mental ability (Binet)?
abilities cannot be separated because they interact to produce a solution
What is age differentiation (Binet)?
Certain cognitive abilities (intelligence) increase with age.
Testing intelligence by giving people tasks which a certain age level should be able to complete (e.g. Are you smarter than a 5th grader.)
Explain Charles Spearman’s - “Spearman’s g”
Spearman’s g is the general mental ability/mental ability and it is an underlying factor of all intelligence.
- performance on other factors of intelligence is influenced by the “g’
- based on performance on diverse tests - Spearman believed that performance on tests was largely contingent on general mental ability
According to Spearman’s theory of intelligence, what are the two factors which constitute intelligence ?
a general single factor (g) and numerous specific factors (s)
- the “g” is the one that “holds it down” for the others “S”. It is always underlying in the background.
What is the difference between Spearman’s theory of intelligence and Raymond Cattell’s theory?
What is a similarity?
Raymond Cattell proposed two “higher order” factors of intelligence (fluid & crystallised) whereas Spearman proposed one single factor (g).
Similarity: Cattell’s theory conceptualises the higher order factors as Gf and Gc and it contains lower-level specific factors. They are similar because they include specific factors and both confirm the “hierarchal” view of intelligence.
What are the two higher order factors of Raymond Cattell’s theory?
Fluid and crystallised
Explain fluid intelligence (Raymond Cattell)
A higher order factor of intelligence which is thought to have a biological basis (born with it). ** fixed mindset
It includes the capacity for problem solving and reasoning as well as an ability to learn new things.
Explain crystallised intelligence (Raymond Cattell)
A higher order factor of intelligence which goes beyond the capacity one has at birth. ** growth mindset
It is acquired through education, experience and practice. It includes accumulated knowledge and is based on fixed intelligence.
Which model did Cattell’s theory form the basis of?
C-H-C model
Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model
What is the way in which David Wechsler conceptualised intelligence?
“global” or “aggregate” intelligence.
Global ability can be measured by quantifying several aspects of differential abilities : verbal; performance; perceptual/ non-verbal reasoning; working memory; processing speed
- observing them individually then adding the score.
David Wechsler viewed intelligence as ___ rather than ___. He differed from earlier intelligence theorists because he considered the role of ___ such as __ and __ rather than the biological factors.
a) Effect, cause
David Wechsler viewed intelligence as effect rather than cause. He differed from earlier intelligence theorists because he considered the role of non-intellective factors such as affect and personality rather than the biological factors.
It is known that a main difference between Cattell and Spearman is that Cattell proposed that there were two main factors of intelligence as opposed to one (Spearman).
Which theorist diverged even further away from these two theorists and proposed that intelligence is comprised of multiple broad group factors?
Who is this theorist most similar to and why?
Louis Thurstone.
Similar to Wechsler as they both believed that intelligence involves multiple non-intellective factors.
Eventually, Thurstone came to recognise that the underlying g factor did make sense because he found correlations between the multiple broad groups of intelligence.
Explain Thurstone’s theory of intelligence
A multi-faceted construct which is an adaptational process. He believed intelligence involves the achievement of goals through planning, the imagination of goals/outcomes, inhibition of instinctual responses to prioritise rationality and being very goal-oriented.