Intelligence and Giftedness
Week 8
Outline
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Definition of Intelligence
Theories of Intelligence
Measuring Intelligence
Giftedness
Intelligence: Definition
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Is ability or abilities to acquire and use
knowledge for solving problems and adapting
to the world.
Has three components:
 The capacity to learn.
 The total knowledge a person has acquired.
 The ability to adapt successfully to new situations and
environment in general.
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Theories of Intelligence
Spearman’s Two Factor Theory
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Intelligence comprises two factors
general intelligence (g): a single pervasive ability
that affects performance across all cognitive
tasks.
 specific intelligence (s): a number of specific
abilities to execute particular tasks.
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Theories of Intelligence (cont’d)
Cattell-Horn Theory
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General intelligence (g) has two distinct
components:
Crystallized Intelligence – ability acquired from
experience, schooling and culture. Useful for
familiar tasks.
 Fluid Intelligence - the ability to think and reason
abstractly and solve problems (grounded in brain
development). Useful for new & unfamiliar tasks
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Theories of Intelligence (cont’d)
Gardner’s Theory of Multiple
Intelligences
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Eight distinct intelligences.
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Linguistic, musical, spatial, logicalmathematical, bodily-kinesthetic,
interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist.
Theories of Intelligence (cont’d)
Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences
Theories of Intelligence(cont’d)
Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
Three dimensions:
(Sternberg)
Analytic Intelligence: Involves analyzing,
evaluating etc of information/problems .
 Creativity: Involves imagination, invention
within new context.
 Practical Intelligence: Involves applying
knowledge & skills to every day problems.
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Theories of Intelligence(cont’d)
Example in Language Arts:
Analytic Intelligence: Why is Romeo &
Juliet is considered a tragedy?
 Creative Intelligence: Write an alternative
ending to Romeo & Juliet to make it a
comedy.
 Practical Intelligence: Write a TV ad for
school’s production of Romeo & Juliet .
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Measuring Intelligence
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Originally, intelligence was measured using
Intelligence Quotients i.e., IQ = Mental
Age/Chronological Age  100.
IQ scores and achievement
Intelligence is correlated with achievement
but the correlation is imperfect.
 IQ scores often change overtime.
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Measuring Intelligence
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(cont’d)
Giftedness
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Is an unusually high ability in one or more
areas, IQ scores mostly about130.
Common characteristics include:
Advanced vocabulary and reading comprehension.
 Extensive general knowledge.
 Ability to learn quickly.
 High standards of performance.
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Giftedness (cont’d)
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Both biology and environment play important
role in intelligence.
There are cultural differences in conception of
intelligence.
We should be aware of IQ scores and their
interpretation.