Individual differences Include: Intelligence & Personality Intelligence: Problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to and learn from life’s everyday experiences

Individual Intelligence Tests The Binet Tests Mental Age Intelligence Quotient Normal Distribution An individual’s level of mental development relative to others A symmetrical distribution Majority of the scores falling in the middle Few scores in the extremes

Intelligence The Normal Curve

Individual Intelligence Tests The Wechsler Scales Age-related versions provide an overall IQ and also yield both verbal and performance IQs. (WPPSI-P) Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Revised. Ages 4 to 6 ½ (WISC-R) Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. Ages 6 to 16 (WAIS-R) Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised

Wechsler Subscales

Group Intelligence Tests Advantage More convenient and economical Disadvantages Examiner cannot: establish rapport determine student’s level of anxiety Student: might not understand instructions might be distracted by other students

Theories of Multiple Intelligence Early Views Spearman (1927): People have both general intelligence (g) and specific types of intelligence (s). Thurston (1938): People have seven specific intellectual abilities (verbal comprehension, associative memory, word fluency, reasoning, number ability, spatial visualization, and perceptual speed).

Theories of Multiple Intelligence Sternberg’s Theory Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory of Intelligence Analytical: analyze, judge, evaluate, compare/contrast Creative: create, design, invent, originate, and imagine Practical: use, apply, implement, put into practice

Theories of Multiple Intelligence Gardner’s Theory Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences Skills are represented in the following areas: Verbal • Musical Mathematical • Intrapersonal Spatial • Interpersonal Bodily-kinesthetic • Naturalist

Emotional Intelligence Salovey and Mayer (1990) Read and understand emotions in oneself and others, Use emotion and emotional expression to manage oneself and others. Salovey Mayer

Intelligence Controversies and Issues Nature and Nurture Heritability of IQ about 50% according to twin studies. Similarity to parents’ IQ increases with age, 40% in childhood to 60% in adulthood.

Intelligence Controversies and Issues Culturally biased tests favor: Urban over rural children Middle-income over low-income children White children over minority children Culture-fair tests, free of cultural bias: Type 1: Include items familiar to all SES and ethnic backgrounds Type 2: All of the verbal items are removed

Raven’s Progressive Matrices

Intelligence Controversies and Issues The Flynn effect IQ scores are rising About 3 points per decade All over the world More pronounced on abstract tests Possible reasons?

Intelligence Controversies and Issues Ability Grouping and Tracking Between-Class Ability Grouping groups students based on their ability or achievement. Advantages - Narrows class skill range - Prevents “less able” students from holding back more talented students Disadvantages - Stigmatizes students in lower track - May segregate students by SES and ethnicity

Learning and Thinking Styles Dichotomies Deep Learners Surface Learners Deep learners actively construct knowledge and are more internally motivated. Reflective Students surpass Impulsive Students Reflective students set higher standards, are better at reading comprehension, problem-solving, and remembering structured information.

Personality and Temperament Personality: The distinctive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that characterize the way an individual adapts to the world Temperament: A person’s behavioral style and characteristic way of responding

Personality and Temperament The “Big Five” Personality Factors

Personality and Temperament Three basic styles of temperament found in children Easy Positive mood Establishes regular routines Adapts to new experiences Difficult React negatively Aggressive tendencies Lacks self-control Slow-to-Warm-Up Low activity level Negative Slow adaptability Low intensity of mood