Learn about the types of intelligence, and how intelligence is defined. Examine forms of intelligence, and their descriptions according to different theorists.
Updated: 11/21/2023
Intelligence | Overview, Types & Theories
Table of Contents
- What is Intelligence?
- Types of Intelligence: How Many Types of Intelligence Are There?
- Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences
- Robert J. Sternberg's Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
- Lesson Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
How do humans define intelligence?
Humans define intelligence as the skill or capacity to learn new information, and apply this information to future scenarios. Because there are several different theories and viewpoints on intelligence, it is difficult to accurately define.
What are the 7 types of intelligence?
1. Linguistic intelligence-ability to read, write, and speak well
2. Logical/Mathematical intelligence-capability of solving problems using math or logic
3. Spatial intelligence-ability to visualize and think in three dimensional images
4. Musical intelligence-aptitude to recognize and appreciate rhythm and music
5. Kinesthetic intelligence-skill in directing one's own body parts and physical coordination
6. Interpersonal intelligence-aptness to interacting with other people and recognizing moods and perspectives
7. Intrapersonal intelligence-wherewithal to examine one's own internal thoughts and feelings
An eighth type is also recognized, known as naturalist Intelligence.
Table of Contents
- What is Intelligence?
- Types of Intelligence: How Many Types of Intelligence Are There?
- Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences
- Robert J. Sternberg's Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
- Lesson Summary
Defining intelligence can be very complicated. Is it how well a student does in school? Is it how quickly a person learns a new concept, or can solve a problem? Is it perhaps how well a person interacts with others, and sees different perspectives? What about other species in the animal kingdom-can they have varying levels of intelligence? When you start to think deeply about intelligence, it is easy to see why there are different views on the concept. Psychologists have debated these viewpoints for decades and several popular, yet very different, theories on the topic have arisen.
A broad and simple definition of intelligence is the skill or capacity to learn new information, and apply this information to future scenarios. Depending on the perspective or theory, however, this definition can change and take on additional or varying components.
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The number and types of intelligence differ based on the theorist's ideas being examined. One theory presents just a single type of intelligence.
Another suggests there are as many as eight types of intelligence. These types can span across vastly different areas - from cognitive, such as problem solving; to social; and even to how a person is able to move his or her body.
Different View of Intelligence
Three theorists' views on intelligence have become widely accepted, but also debated. Alfred Binet was an early researcher in this field, and is credited with the measurement tool known as the Intelligence Quotient, or IQ. His IQ test was developed to measure how people perform on tasks that are not specific to any knowledge base or content learned in school, but rather skills such as recalling patterns, or properly arranging items. The quotient itself is a ratio of a person's mental age to their true age.
Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, a more recently developed theory in the 1980s, addresses the idea that people could have as many as eight different types of intelligence. These include intelligence in areas such as music, language, and even the ability to interact with other people.
Finally, Robert J. Sternberg's theory suggests there are just three types of intelligence in his triarchic theory of intelligence. These include analytical, practical, and creative thinking.
Howard Gardner is an American psychologist who presented his theory of various categories of intelligence in his book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences in 1983. This theory gained traction because it suggests there is more than one way to be intelligent. It is popular in the field of education because it is believed that if teachers can create lessons and curricula that reach multiple types of intelligence, more students will be able to connect with the material in a way that is meaningful to them, and thus be more successful in academics.
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List of Intelligence Types by Gardner
Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligence identifies eight major categories of intelligence:
- Linguistic intelligence-ability to read, write, and speak well
- Logical/Mathematical intelligence-capability of solving problems using math or logic
- Spatial intelligence-ability to visualize and think in three dimensional images
- Musical intelligence-aptitude to recognize and appreciate rhythm and music
- Kinesthetic intelligence-skill in directing one's own body parts and physical coordination
- Interpersonal intelligence-aptness to interacting with other people and recognizing moods and perspectives
- Intrapersonal intelligence-wherewithal to examine one's own internal thoughts and feelings
- Naturalist intelligence-aptitude to classify and appreciate plants, animals, and nature
You can probably imagine different types of people who might have the prevalence of one of these intelligences over another. For example, a writer would likely have linguistic intelligence, an athlete would posses kinesthetic intelligence, and a therapist would exhibit interpersonal intelligence.
Criticism of Gardner's Theory
The main criticism of Gardner's theory is that the categories are not really cognitive abilities, but rather specific talents or skills. Perhaps they are simply a person's traits, rather than a type of intelligence. It is also argued that these types of intelligence cannot be scientifically or objectively measured, such as in Binet's general intelligence theory.
Robert J. Sternberg's contributions to the field of intelligence are the most recent. Like Gardner, he is an American psychologist with credentials at many well-known universities. His theory also includes multiple intelligences, but only three. Sternberg is passionate about the idea that people can be successful in life, even if they do not perform well academically. His view is that the education system, with its emphasis on academic testing, does not take into account other types of intelligence people might possess. His theory suggests that three ways of thinking contribute to a person's ability to solve problems, and thus contribute to their overall intelligence.
List of Intelligence Types by Sternberg
The three types of intelligence described in Sternberg's triarchic theory are as follows:
- Analytical intelligence-ability to solve typical academic problems, including those that require calculations, and taking ideas apart
- Practical intelligence-everyday common sense, sometimes referred to as ''street smarts'',
- Creative intelligence-capacity to approach problems in an innovative way
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Criticism of Sternberg's Theory
A major criticism of Sternberg's theory is that it makes a distinction between academic intelligence, and practical intelligence. Many believe that academic intelligence actually correlates highly with success in the real world, and can be used as an accurate predictor of career success. It has also been suggested that there may be flaws in Sternberg's study methods, and reporting of findings.
Intelligence is very difficult to define. Alfred Binet's theory is based on a measurable test with an outcome called the Intelligence Quotient, or IQ. Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences suggest there are as many as eight types of intelligence, such as linguistic, musical, logical, and even interpersonal. Arguments against this theory propose that these types of intelligences are skills or talents, rather than types of intelligence. Robert J. Sternberg's triarchic theory states there are multiple types of intelligence-analytical, creative, and practical. His theory supports the idea that a person can have intelligence outside of academic, and cognitive intelligence. Critics of this theory argue that general intelligence is not distinct from creative, and practical intelligence. When discussing intelligence, the meaning and definition changes based on the theory being examined.
Video Transcript
What Is Intelligence?
Think about the smartest person you know. What makes them smarter than the other people you know? What do they have or have they done to become intelligent? And how do you know that they are smart?
Intelligence, or the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills, is a somewhat tricky concept. Psychologists have been trying for years to figure out what exactly it is and how to measure it.
It all started in the late 19th century, when a Frenchman named Alfred Binet was asked by the government to identify which Parisian children would experience trouble with school. They wanted to identify which students would need extra help as early as possible.
Binet put together a test that focused on things that weren't explicitly taught in school, things like attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Thus, the first intelligence quotient, or IQ, test was born. Its goal was to measure the underlying intelligence of people.
In particular, Binet wanted to measure how easily a child would learn in school. But is that all there is to intelligence? Or is there more? Let's look at two other theories of intelligence and what they say intelligence is made up of.
Multiple Intelligences
Think about a person who is really good at something that doesn't have to do with school. Maybe you know someone who really understands people and how to relate to them or someone who can take apart a car or computer and put it back together again, even without having been trained in that. Perhaps you know someone who is very good at sports.
Are these talents or intelligences?
Howard Gardner doesn't like Binet's idea of intelligence. He believes that it is too narrowly defined and that it leaves out many students who aren't traditionally book smart. So, he came up with a theory of multiple intelligences, which says that there are many different types of intelligence that people can have.
Among his intelligences, Gardner has listed interpersonal intelligence, which involves understanding and relating to other people; intrapersonal intelligence, which involves understanding yourself; kinesthetic intelligence, which involves being able to control your body movements to a degree; and many others.
People who are in support of Gardner's multiple intelligences theory argue that people vary in different skills. Just because someone is better at reading people than at reading books doesn't mean that they aren't as intelligent.
But not everyone agrees with Gardner. Those who argue against his theory point out that intelligence is just scholastic aptitude. That is, it is the skill or talent of being able to succeed in school. What Gardner's theory describes, they say, are skills or talents in other areas, but not intelligence.
Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
Gardner isn't the only one who feels like Binet's definition of intelligence is too narrow. Robert J. Sternberg is a psychologist who also wants to expand the definition of intelligence. But Sternberg doesn't agree with Gardner's definitions of intelligence. He believes that Gardner is just listing talents and skills, not intelligence.
Sternberg developed a triarchic theory of intelligence, which says that there are three types of intelligence. The prefix tri- means three, so you can remember that the triarchic theory has three different types of intelligence.
The first type of intelligence according to Sternberg is analytical intelligence, which involves taking things apart to understand them. This could be someone taking apart a computer to see how it works, or it could be someone taking apart a political argument to see what the underlying theory behind it is.
The next type of intelligence in Sternberg's theory is creative intelligence. This involves creating new things and solutions and dealing with novelty. For example, someone who sees two people arguing and comes up with a solution to make them both happy is demonstrating creative intelligence.
Finally, the triarchic theory of intelligence lists practical intelligence as being able to apply analytical and creative skills to make you fit with your environment. Think about the prototypical nerd who can solve complex physics equations but can't read simple social cues. Though that person may be high in analytical or creative intelligence, he is low in practical intelligence.
On the other hand, think about a popular politician who might not be the smartest cookie but who knows how to use the smarts he does have to make the people around him like him. He is showing a high practical intelligence: he's using his analytical or creative intelligence to make his environment more accommodating to him.
Lesson Summary
Psychologist Alfred Binet designed the first IQ test to measure a person's intelligence, in the hopes of figuring out which students needed extra help in school. But not everyone agrees on what intelligence is. Howard Gardner believes in multiple intelligences, like interpersonal and kinesthetic, while Robert J. Sternberg developed a triarchic theory of intelligence, which says that there are three types of intelligence: analytical, creative, and practical.
Learning Outcomes
After completing this lesson, you should be able to:
- Define Alfred Binet's basic measurement of intelligence
- Identify Harold Gardner's multiple intelligences
- Describe Robert J. Sternberg's theory of three types of intelligence
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