Intellectual development Chapter 11 Intellectual development

Some definitions of intelligence Alfred Binet To judge, comprehend and reason well… Jean Piaget Adaptation to the physical and social worlds Harry Wechsler The global capacity …to act purposefully…to think rationally … to deal effectively with the environment

Traditions of research on intelligence Psychometric Binet, Terman, Spearman, Cattell Attempts to measure intelligence spawned theories of intelligence Cognitive Sternberg, Gardner Information processing assumptions led to models of cognition and reasoning

Gallery of Intelligence theorists

The psychometric approach Starting point was to develop ‘tests’ of intelligence Binet-Simon Test Stanford-Binet Test Wechsler Adult Intelligence Test 1890 1930

Spearman’s 2 Factor intelligence model Factor Analysed test scores to show

Guilford’s ‘structure of intellect’

Cattell - Fluid and crystallized IQ Fluid intelligence (Gf) Inherited ability to solve novel, abstract problems ‘Flows’ into many activities Crystallised intelligence (Gc) Schooled ability to solve problems that depend on specific, learnt knowledge

Problems with psychometric approach Infant IQ scores tend to be unreliable Infant IQ scores are poor predictors School-age IQ scores predict school performance, but not later achievement Intelligence has been very narrowly defined in psychometric approaches

Sternberg’s triarchic theory Componential sub-theory Mental processes (e.g. problem solving) Experiential sub-theory Adaptation to new tasks, creativity Contextual sub-theory Ability to select contexts that suit them

Gardner - multiple intelligences Linguistic Logical-mathematical Musical Spatial Bodily-kinaesthetic Interpersonal Intra-personal All people have these abilities BUT each person has an individual profile

Problems with cognitive approach Very similar to psychometric models They also depend on central ‘abilities’ Therefore, same problems Definitions of ‘intelligence’ are more detailed, but no more coherent

Intelligence and aging Physiological changes in the brain affect cognitive abilities But not that dramatic Except where a disease process is active e.g. Alzheimer’s Decrease of fluid intelligence in adulthood, but increase in crystallized intelligence