What makes us intelligent Or Not so intelligent Intelligence What makes us intelligent Or Not so intelligent

Theories of Intelligence

Intelligence The ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations. Is socially constructed thus… Can be culturally specific. According to this definition, are both Einstein and Ruth intelligent?

Is intelligence one thing or several different abilities? To find out scientists use FACTOR ANALYSIS: A statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items on a test. Charles Spearman used FA to discovery his g or (general intelligence). He saw using FA that doing well in one area of a test predicted that you will do well in another.

Brain Size and Intelligence Is there a link? Small +.15 correlation between head size and intelligence scores (relative to body size). Using an MRI we found +.44 correlation with brain size and IQ score.

Brain Function and Intelligence Higher performing brains use less active than lower performing brains (use less glucose). Neurological speed is also a bit quicker.

How do we Assess Intelligence? Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon set out to figure out a concept called a mental age (what a person of a particular age should know). They discovered that by discovering someone’s mental age they can predict future performance. Hoped they could use test to help children, not label them.

1908 Scale grouped items according to age could now describe individual in terms of “mental age” – based on his/her performance compared to average performance of individuals in a specific age group e.g., if 6 year old can perform tasks that average 8 year old can, has a mental age of 8

1916 Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale developed by L.M. Terman of Stanford University first time the concept of “intelligence quotient” was used:

Terman and his IQ Test A 8 year old has a mental age of 10, what is her IQ? A 12 year old has the mental age of 9, what is his IQ? A boy has the mental age of 10 and an IQ of 200, how old is he? Used Binet’s research to construct the modern day IQ test called the Stanford-Binet Test. IQ=Mental age/Chronological age X 100.

Problems with the IQ Formula It does not really work well on adults, why? If a 60 year old man does as well as an average 30 year old then his IQ would be 50!!!!!! That makes no sense!!!!!

Modern Tests of Mental Abilities Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) consists of 11 subtests and cues us in to strengths by using….. Factor Analysis

Aptitude v. Achievement Tests A test designed to predict a person’s future performance. The ability for that person to learn. Achievement A test designed to assess what a person has learned.

How do we construct Intelligence tests? Tests must be: Standardized Reliable Valid

Standardization The test must be pre-tested to a representative sample of people and Form a normal distribution or bell curve

Famous IQs Leonardo da Vinci 220 OR 190 OR 180 William Shakespeare 190 Albert Einstein 190 OR 160+  Plato 180 OR 170  Napoleon 180 OR 145 Pablo Picasso 175  Bill Gates 173 OR 160 

Famous IQs Confucius 170 Norman Schwarzkopf 170 Marilyn Monroe 163 Mahatma Gandhi 160  Richard Nixon 143  Charlie Chaplin 140  Bill Clinton 140 

Famous IQs Paul Hogan 140 Madonna 140 Shakira 140 Arnold Schwarzenegger 135  Nicole Kidman  132+  Walt Disney 123  Average person 90 to 110 Koko the trained gorilla 90 

IQ 170 Andrew J. Wiles (Mathematician; solved Fermat's Last Theorem) Judith Polgar (Formula based; Female World Champion in Chess) IQ 180 James Woods (Actor) John H. Sununu (Chief of Staff for President Bush) Benjamin Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister) Marilyn Vos Savant (186) (Author) Bobby Fischer (187) (Former World Champion in Chess) IQ 190 Philip Emeagwali (Extrapolated; Nigerian Mathematician)

Does Intelligence Change Over Time? By age 3, a child’s IQ can predict adolescent IQ scores. Depends on the type of intelligence, crystallized or fluid.

Cattell: Fluid & Crystallized Intelligence Also used factor analysis, discovered 2 major factors: Fluid Intelligence: Non-verbal & culture-free form of intelligence Related to a person’s inherent capacity to learn & solve problems Used in adapting to new situations Crystallized Intelligence: What one has already learned through the investment of fluid intelligence in cultural settings Highly culturally dependent Used for tasks which require learned or habitual response

Cultural Differences in Views of Intelligence China (Yang & Sternberg, 1997) Emphasis on benevolence & doing what is right Importance of humility, freedom from conventional standards of judgment, knowledge of oneself

Africa (Ruzgis & Grigorenko, 1994) Conceptions of intelligence revolve largely around skill that help to facilitate and maintain harmonious & stable intergroup relations E.g., in Zimbabwe, the word for intelligence, ngware, actually means to be prudent & cautious, particularly in social relationships

Multiple Intelligences Howard Gardner disagreed with Spearman’s g and instead came up with the concept of multiple intelligences. He came up with the idea by studying savants (a condition where a person has limited mental ability but is exceptional in one area).

Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Visual/Spatial Verbal/Linguistic Logical/Mathematical Bodily/Kinesthetic Musical/Rhythmic Interpersonal Intrapersonal Natural Learn More about Gardner

Sternberg’s Three Aspects of Intelligence Gardner Simplified Analytical (academic problem solving). Creative (generating novel ideas) Practical (required for everyday tasks where multiple solutions exist).

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) First called social intelligence. The ability to perceive, express, understand, and regulate emotions. Some studies show EQ to be a greater predictor for future success than IQ

Cornelius & Caspi, 1987 The Everyday Problem Solving Inventory Examinees indicate their typical response to everyday problems E.g., failing to bring money, checkbook, or credit card when taking a friend to lunch