What is Intelligence? Fluid Intelligence: processing ability Fluid intelligence decreases after your 20s. Crystallized Intelligence: knowledge acquired By age 3 children’s performances can predict future intelligence

“g” - factor Charles Spearman believed there is a general intelligence. Used factor analysis to identify and quantify abilities in certain areas. If you’re good at one thing, then you’ll be good at another.

Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand your own emotions and those of people around you. Highly intelligent people can be social morons

Autistic/Idiot Savants Score low on intelligence tests, but have extraordinary skills usually in the form of memory feats, or mathematic, artistic, or musical abilities Derek Paravicini Kim Peek

Tests Aptitude tests – attempt to predict future performance (SAT, GRE, ACT) Achievement tests – attempt to measure what you’ve learned (Regents exams, AP exam)

What makes a good test? Standardization and Norms (avg. scores) Norms determine how well you do compared to a representative sample. Typically form a normal distribution.

What makes a good test? Reliability – consistent results Test-retest and split-half scores help predict reliability Validity – the test measures what it is supposed to measure Criterion related validity – does it measure what’s intended? Can a test be reliable, but not valid? Can a test be valid, but have low reliability?

First Intelligence Tests Alfred Binet established a test to identify students who needed additional help in schooling. Simon and Binet attempted to measure a child’s mental age. Lewis Terman created the Stanford-Binet Test to determine IQ Mental Age Chronological Age Multiplied x 100 8 10 X 100 = 80

Modern Tests of Mental Abilities Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) – set of 11 subtests Wechsler Scale for Children (WISC)

Change over time Flynn effect – we are smarter today Why? Avg. IQ score 80 yrs. ago was a 76 Goes up about 3 pts. every decade Why? Better nutrition? More education? More stimulating environments? Better at taking IQ tests?

Stability vs. Change Baby’s 2-11 months who become bored easily tend to score higher on IQ tests 10 years later. By age 7 intelligence test scores stabilize.

Group Differences Asians score higher than whites Jews score higher than gentiles Whites score higher than blacks About 15 pts. or 1 SD 16% of blacks score higher than avg. white Hispanics are between whites and blacks and Native Americans are below blacks What accounts for these differences?

Environmental effects Differences in child-rearing Commands vs. explanations TV watching Inferior schools Nutrition Prenatal care Lead pollution and other toxins

Genetic Influences Adopted children are more similar to their biological parents Twin studies 163 twins reared apart have similar IQs

Social Class and Intelligence The Eugenics Movement wanted to discourage reproduction of individuals IQ is strongly related to Crime Poverty levels Welfare