Learn about Robert Sternberg and his theory of intelligence. Understand Robert Sternberg's contributions to psychology and the criticisms of his theory.
Updated: 11/21/2023
Robert Sternberg's Theory of Intelligence | Overview & Criticisms
Table of Contents
- Robert Sternberg
- Robert Sternberg's Theory of Intelligence
- Three Parts of Intelligence
- Criticisms of Robert Sternberg's Theory
- Lesson Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sternberg best known for?
Robert Sternberg is an American psychologist. He is best known for his intelligence theory, which states that there are three aspects to intelligence. These are creative, analytical, and practical intelligence.
How does Sternberg define intelligence?
Sternberg defines intelligence as the mental processes used to navigate daily lives. People use these processes, or "thinking components," to problem solve.
What are the three components of Sternberg's intelligence theory, and what do they mean?
There is creative, practical, and analytical intelligence. Creative intelligence includes using prior knowledge and skills to tackle new situations. Practical intelligence includes using prior knowledge to adapt to the environment. Analytical intelligence includes problem-solving and academic learning.
Why is Sternberg's theory important?
Sternberg's theory is important because it argues that intelligence is more complex and diverse than many psychologists once thought. He argues that intelligence is culturally constructed, meaning that what one culture considers intelligent behavior may not be regarded as intelligent in another culture.
What are Sternberg's three types of intelligence?
Sternberg states that there are three different parts to intelligence. All people have different levels of each type. These are analytic, practical, and creative intelligence.
Table of Contents
- Robert Sternberg
- Robert Sternberg's Theory of Intelligence
- Three Parts of Intelligence
- Criticisms of Robert Sternberg's Theory
- Lesson Summary
Robert Jeffrey Sternberg is an American psychologist who currently works as a professor at Cornell University. He is also a psychometrician, meaning that he interprets and administers psychological tests. His background in psychometrics likely inspired his research into intelligence. Robert Sternberg's main contribution to psychology is his theory of intelligence. Intelligence has been interpreted very differently by psychologists alone in the last few decades. Sternberg is part of the movement which argues that there is more than one part to intelligence. Since humans are diverse and complex, he and others argue that intelligence must be as well. There is no completely intelligent or unintelligent person. He also argued that intelligence has a cultural component. Intelligence is a complicated phenomenon that differs based on the individual.
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What is the Robert Sternberg Theory? The Robert Sternberg intelligence theory differs from other theories of intelligence in one specific way. He argues that creativity and intelligence should be integrated. Without accounting for creativity, people cannot truly understand human intelligence. According to Sternberg psychology, IQ tests are not accurate measures of intelligence. They do not consider creativity in problem-solving or account for different mental processes. Robert Sternberg's theory outlines three basic mental processes of thinking, which he calls thinking components. These are the three thinking components he outlines.
- Metacomponents - These include the processes people use to solve their problems. This component helps people make a plan and decisions as they try to solve a problem. Then the process is used again after these attempts are made to evaluate if their efforts were a success or failure.
- Performance components - Upon defining a plan and steps, performance components help people take action. These components include practical tools like the ability to compare two ideas or possible solutions. People also use this component to store information in their short-term memory.
- Knowledge-acquisition components - People use this to store information that they have just learned.
These three components are used to define intelligent behavior. Those who are successfully intelligent can define their own idea of success. Success does not look the same for everyone. People define success within their own culture since something that may be viewed as intelligent in one culture may not be seen the same way in another. A successfully intelligent individual not only defines this success but also achieves it. When faced with obstacles to their success, they can adapt to their environment or even modify it to suit their goals. They use all of these components of intelligence to be effective.
Not only does Sternberg argue that there are three mental processes, but with his theory, he states that there are also three components of successful intelligence. These three parts are analytical, creative, and practical. A successfully intelligent person can combine these three parts effectively.
- Analytical intelligence has to do with problem-solving and information processing. It is linked to academic learning and academic skills. People tend to think of this when they hear the word "intelligence." Analytical intelligence has to do with processing and understanding information to solve problems. Analytical intelligence is what is tested by the traditional IQ test. This intelligence is often tested in school tests. It is sometimes called "book smarts." The math test students take at the end of a unit tests analytical intelligence. This intelligence is also the primary form of intelligence needed to do well on college entrance exams.
- Creative intelligence requires a person to use their knowledge and experience to deal with situations and problems they have not faced before. The need for prior experiences to develop this form of intelligence has led to it being called experiential intelligence. Sternberg argues that creativity, especially imagination and insight, is an integral part of intelligence because it helps people develop new ideas. A person with high creative intelligence would be able to write a story based on something they have never experienced. If a person writes a story about snow but has never seen it in real life, they will use their past experiences with cold weather, ice, and stories from others to write their story.
- Finally, there is practical intelligence, which is sometimes playfully nicknamed "street smarts." This knowledge requires one to use their own knowledge to adapt to their environment. A person with high practical intelligence would recognize what they need to be successful and change or adapt to the environment to ensure that they are. For example, a person may want to do well in school but may fall in with the wrong crowd who does not value their grades. This person could use their practical intelligence to recognize that this will not help them achieve their goals and decide to stop hanging out with this group.
Robert Sternberg's theory of intelligence has its critics. Some say it is unempirical, meaning it has not been proven based on evidence. Proving this intelligence exists would mean being able to measure it. Since the different parts of intelligence are so diverse in individuals and so hard to define, it can be hard to measure. Others disagree with his claim that IQ tests don't measure practical intelligence specifically. These critics usually bring up that people with higher IQs have been found to have a larger income. This characteristic may imply that IQ tests can account for that sort of intelligence since people with practical intelligence are also more likely to achieve great things.
He is also criticized for saying that job performance is not an indicator of intelligence. However, this often comes from a misunderstanding of his research. He asserts that IQ tests are not an accurate reflection of job performance, arguing that selecting applicants based on their intelligence scores alone will not help employers determine the best candidate for a job. Specific jobs use different parts of intelligence differently, which he says are not accounted for in IQ tests.
Robert Jeffrey Sternberg is an American psychologist who has created his own theory of intelligence. He rejected IQ tests as a way to determine intelligence. Within this theory, he states that basic mental processes can be used to define intelligent behavior. These are called thinking components and include metacomponents, performance components, and knowledge-acquisition components. He argues that these components are seen across different cultures because what one culture thinks reflects intelligence may not be the same in another culture.
He also divides intelligence into three parts. There is creative, analytical, and practical intelligence. Creative intelligence is about using skills and knowledge to face new situations. Analytical intelligence is sometimes called "book smarts" associated with problem-solving and academic learning. Practical intelligence is sometimes called "street smarts." "Street smarts" means people use their skills and knowledge to adapt to or modify their environment.
Video Transcript
Sternberg's Theory of Intelligence and Information Processing
Intelligence is one of the most complex, talked about concepts within the field of psychology. In the past century, several theories about what constitutes intelligence have been created. Robert Sternberg, an American psychologist, created one of the most well-known theories of intelligence. Unlike most theories of intelligence, Sternberg's theory calls for the integration of intelligence and creativity.
According to Robert Sternberg's theory, there are three basic mental processes that underlie all intelligent behavior. The three basic mental processes are:
- Metacomponents
- Performance components
- Knowledge-acquisition components
Although what is viewed as intelligent in one culture might not be viewed as intelligent in another, the basic mental processes are the same across different cultures.
Metacomponents are the executive processes that we use to solve problems, plan what to do, make decisions, and evaluate outcomes. Performance components carry out the directions of the metacomponents. It is performance components that allow us to store information in short-term memory, compare two concepts, compare solutions to the task, etc. Knowledge-acquisition components are what we use to learn and store new information. In other words, metacomponents tell us what to do, performance components actually do it, and knowledge-acquisition components make sure we learn things along the way.
For example, you may plan to read a book - that involves metacomponents. When you grab a book off the shelf and actually read it, that involves performance components. If you learn new vocabulary words while reading, that involves knowledge-acquisition components.
Three Parts of Intelligence
So what makes a person intelligent? According to Sternberg, intelligence cannot be defined by intelligence tests such as the Stanford-Binet scales. Rather, intelligence should be defined in terms of how you perform in your everyday world.
Sternberg refers to what he calls successful intelligence. People who are successfully intelligent are able to define and achieve their own idea of success within their culture. People who are successfully intelligent are skilled at adapting to and modifying their environment to fit their needs. Because your intelligence is highly dependent upon the culture that you live in, an individual that is considered intelligent in one culture might not be considered intelligent in another.
There are three components of successful intelligence: analytical, creative, and practical intelligence. It is not enough to possess the three components. One must know when and how to use these components in order to be effective.
Analytical Intelligence
Have you ever been called 'book smart?' If so, you were being complimented on your analytical intelligence, which refers to your ability to problem-solve, process information effectively, and complete academic tasks. Analytical intelligence is also called componential intelligence. People with high analytical intelligence perform well on traditional IQ tests (i.e., Stanford-Binet scales), college admission exams (i.e., Scholastic Assessment Test), and school exams (i.e. math quizzes). They are skilled at critical thinking and analytical thinking. People with high analytical intelligence can examine problems from multiple points of view.
Creative Intelligence
Creative intelligence is our ability to call upon existing knowledge and skills to effectively handle new and unusual situations. It is also called experiential intelligence because creative intelligence involves using past experiences. People with high creative intelligence have great insight, imagination, and are able to formulate new ideas. For example, painters are often able to use their imagination to paint original artwork. Unlike analytical intelligence, creative intelligence is often overlooked by intelligence tests.
Practical Intelligence
Have you ever been told that you are street-smart? If so, you were being complimented on your practical intelligence, the ability to call upon our existing knowledge and skills to adapt to or shape our changing environment. Practical intelligence is also referred to as contextual knowledge because it is dependent upon the context, or situation. People with high practical intelligence are able to identify the factors that are needed for success and are able to adapt to or modify their environment so that they can achieve their goals. Practical intelligence is comprised of three things:
- Adapting to your environment to achieve success
- Shaping or modifying the environment to achieve success
- If the other two do not work, going to a new environment where you can be successful
Practical intelligence is what we rely on when we deal with personal, everyday sorts of problems. For example, suppose that you were driving on a highway, got a flat tire, and your cell phone was dead. It is your practical intelligence that you would rely on in this situation. Like creative intelligence, traditional intelligence tests fail to measure practical intelligence.
Lesson Summary
Perhaps one of the most notable theories on intelligence came from Robert Sternberg. His theory states that metacomponents, performance components, and knowledge-acquisition components underlie intelligent behavior. There are also three parts of intelligence: analytical, creative, and practical. So the next time someone calls you street smart, remember that they are not talking about how well you know the names of your local roads. They are talking about your ability to adapt.
Learning Outcomes
Following this video lesson, you should be able to:
- Describe Robert Sternberg's theory on intelligence
- Recall the three components that underlie intelligent behavior according to Sternberg
- Explain analytical, creative and practical intelligence
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