Howard Gardner, a famous modern psychologist, concluded a theory of multiple intelligences and states that not all kinds can be tested with paper and pencil. The types are bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, verbal linguistic, logical-mathematical, naturalistic, intrapersonal, visual spatial, and musical. These types of intelligence have become popular in the psychological community since the theory came out in the mid 80s. It was designed to help with the many styles of learning produced by people. Most people don't belong to one specific type only.
The bodily-kinesthetic type of intelligence is an athletic kind of intelligence and is typically more hands on. This is using a physical movement to help memorize or learn something. Most athletes become good through repetition due to this kind of intelligence.
Interpersonal intelligence is in layman's terms a people skills trait. This is a type of intelligence revolved around understanding how to effectively communicate with others. People that are good at this are successful teachers, politicians, managers, salespeople, or religious leaders.
The next type of intelligence is for rhetoricians, writers, poets, and some teachers and is called verbal linguistics. This is for those who are sensitive to spoken and written language along with being able to debate very well. They can be philosophical and looked upon as highly intelligent by there ability to use superb sentence structure.
Intelligence is typically categorized under this grouping of logical mathematical. This is the most self explanatory kind of intelligence as it is the one found on IQ tests and it is used for mathematical and scientific type people. These people may looked upon as geniuses but anyone who fits any category strongly is actually a genius.
The added in form of intelligence by Gardner in 1997 was naturalistic. This kind of intelligence is used for farmers and people that are big on nature and weather without any technology. They can tell by the sky what the weather will be and what time of day it is along with being able to care for livestock. They typically learn through being outdoors. This intelligence is criticized as not be an intelligence type but an interest.
This next type of intelligence is for the loners that like to be alone and concentrate on there interests. They are deep thinkers and pretty philosophical or scientific individuals. They prefer to analyze themselves and study the human mind through there own eyes.
If you are good with Sudokus, Rubik's Cubes, Tetris, or any other puzzle solving logic you are a part of the visual spatial intelligence. You would most likely have a high correlation with the mathematical and logical intelligence. This intelligence can be looked upon as a useless talent unless in the right field.
The last intelligence type is musical which explains itself. If you have a good sense of rhythm, beats, tones and other basic musical skills to write, compose, or play music you have this intelligence. The term musical or lyrical genius has been used to describe people belonging to this group of Gardner's view.
Out of all of these intelligence groupings it should become prominent that mostly everyone holds multiple levels of intelligence and just because someone doesn't have a high IQ doesn't mean they aren't intelligent or even exempt from being a genius. People are different but if everyone had one type of intelligence or every type the world would be a boring place with no new ideas or views.
As for naturalistic intelligence I don't see how it could be an interest. Some people are naturally good at telling a whole list of facts about a broad range of things by using signs by the earth. I don't know how to tell what time it is much less which way the wind is blowing, but some people are just keen in that sense. Even if you studied it everyday you would never really have the connection used by those who are good at it naturally.
ReplyDeleteAlso I agree that intelligence shouldn't be measured by an IQ. There are plenty of successful people who have gone to trade schools because academics weren't their strong point but they were still get at memorization or hands on activities.
As well as that I believe that my smartest friends are also my stupidest ones in a sense. I think that someone can be smart in that they are logical, rational, and understanding. They have empathy and they have lived life. They might not know calculus by they know people and situations. I think that's important too.
Intelligence is over rated; I know many people with a high level of intelligence but they cannot function in society. I would rather seek out a person who is wise then one with intelligence. Wisdom is the ability to take knowledge and apply it to a circumstance. Gather knowledge but also seek the wisdom to properly use it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, I never really thought to break up the various forms of intelligence. In fact, I never even considered the fact that there was more than one form of intelligence. I just imagined that intelligence was a huge umbrella that sheltered all forms of thought. If the umbrella was large enough, it could successfully produce adequate reasoning in multiple situations. However, your discoveries have en-lighted my mind to new endeavors of thought. Bravo!
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