INTELLIGENCE Compiled by – Dr. Saroj Sharma Nagpal, Associate Professor Dept. of Psychology, P.G Govt. College, Sector-11, Chd.

PAPER - B GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY UNIT –II INTELLIGENCE

DEFINITIONS WECHSLER “Intelligence is the aggregate or global capacity of an individual to act purposefully, to think rationally ,and to deal effectively with his environment” NEISSER et al.,(1996) “The term intelligence refers to individuals’ abilities to understand complex ideas, to adapt effectively to the environment, to learn from experience ,to engage in various forms of reasoning , to overcome obstacles by careful thought.” ROBERT STERNBERG(1997)”Intelligence comprises the mental abilities necessary for adaptation to , as well as shaping and selection of, any environment context.”

THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE SPEARMAN’S - TWO FACTOR THEORY Charles Spearman (1927) proposed a “two factor theory” of intelligence. According to him ,intelligence consists of General(‘g’) and Specific (‘s’) factors. This theory maintained that all intellectual activities share a single common factor, called ‘g’. Characterized as mental energy ‘g’ is considered responsible for relationships between different human activities. Positive correlations between any two factors were attributed to ‘g’ factor.

THURSTONE’S-PRIMARY MENTAL ABILITIES Louis Thurstone (1938) advanced the “Theory of Primary Mental Abilities” which states that intelligence consists of seven major factors, each of which is relatively independent of the others. These factors are : Verbal Comprehension , Verbal Fluency, Inductive Reasoning ,Spatial Visualization ,Number , Memory , and Perceptual Speed.

GUILFORD’S S -O- I Model On the basis of more than two decades of factor analytic research , J. P.Guilford proposed o box-like model, which is known as Structure - of - intellect Model. This theory organises intellectual traits along three dimensions : Operations –what the respondent does , Contents-the nature of the materials or information on which operations are performed, and Products-the form in which information is processed by the respondents .Guilford’s classification includes 6*5*5 categories, resulting into 150 cells in the model .In each cell atleast one factor or ability is expected ; some cells may contain more than one factor.

CATTELL’S gf-gc Theory Raymond Cattell (1971) proposed that there are two ‘g’ factors, gf (for fluid intelligence) and ‘gc’ (for crystallised intelligence). Fluid intelligence includes the ability to think creatively , to reason abstractly, to make inferences from data, and to understand relationships. It is strongly influenced by heredity. Crystallised intelligence includes what a person learns and retains from experience; so it is strongly influenced by environment.Tests of vocabulary and general information can be used to measure crystallised intelligence. It has been found that fluid intelligence tends to decline at an early age than crystallised intelligence though both show rapid decline starting in the late seventies.

MEASUREMENT OF INTELLIGENCE Individual and Group Tests Verbal and Non-Verbal Tests

Individual and Group Tests These Tests may be classified into different types depending upon their mode of administration and content Individual Tests are administered to one person at a time. Eg. Stanford- Binet and Wechsler scale Group Tests are administered on a large number of individuals at one time.

Verbal and Non-Verbal Tests A Verbal Test demands understanding of written words, therefore such tests can be administered to literates Non-Verbal Tests use pictures or illustrations as items e.g. Raven’s Progressive Matrices, Koh’s Block Design Test.

Concept of I.Q The term Intelligence Quotient (IQ) was devised in 1912 by William Stern. IQ refers to a child’s mental age divided by chronological age and multiplied by 100 : IQ =MA/CA*100

Uses of Intelligence Tests For the purpose of selection For the purpose of Classification For the purpose of promotion For knowing one’s potentiality For diagnostic purpose Helps in Research Work

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