1. Intellectual development
Chapter 11
Intellectual development

2. 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

3. 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

4. Gallery of Intelligence theorists

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

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

7. Guilford’s ‘structure of intellect’

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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