Definitions of Intelligence and Nine different types

Definitions of Intelligence

What does intelligence mean to you? 

The schools only respect or value certain forms of intelligence; the rest of us fail. The school system should be based on modern innovation, not Victorian ideology. 

Intelligence has been defined in many ways: higher-level skills (such as abstract reasoning, mental representation, problem-solving, and decision-making), the ability to learn, emotional knowledge, creativity, and adaptation to meet the demands of the environment effectively.

Psychologist Robert Sternberg defined intelligence as "the mental abilities necessary for adaptation to, as well as shaping and selection of, any environmental context (1997, p. 1)

Sir Ken Robinson

The TED Talk by Sir Ken Robinson discusses how teaching affects children. The education system is designed with academia in mind, with a protracted University entrance process. He describes how we get our children to sit down and teach them from the waist up. As they grow up, they only use their heads and then prioritise the right-hand side of their brains. What happens if a child wants to use the rest of their body?

This system measures the intelligence required to get a job, but is based on 1900s-century needs. He also describes how very talented, creative students think they are not intelligent because they need to excel in the subjects that the education system has defined as intelligent—maths, Sciences, Technology, and Engineering. The ‘creative’ subjects are only sometimes valued or, at worst, stigmatised.  

IQ—Intelligence quotient measures mental ability and intelligence. It is done through tests and assessments measuring cognitive, reasoning, and logical thinking skills. The average score is around 100, and those who score high can be members of Mensa—an organisation admitting those with scores of 140 and above, 2% of the population.

EI - Emotional Intelligence is all about understanding our ability to manage our emotions, to perceive, use and understand them.  Being in control of our feelings can help us with our interpersonal relationships, enhancing our personal and professional lives. 

Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

Emotional Intelligence. Daniel Goleman defined Emotional Intelligence in 5 ways because it can matter more than IQ. 

Emotional self-awareness - knowing how one feels

Self-regulation - controlling and directing one's emotions

Motivation - achieving goals through enjoying the learning process and perseverance when meeting obstacles.

Empathy - Sensing others' emotions

Social skills - managing positive relationships.

We need to rethink what intelligence means.

In 1983, Howard Gardner, an American developmental psychologist, described nine types of intelligence.

• Naturalist (nature smart)

• Musical (sound smart)

• Logical-mathematical (number/reasoning smart)

• Existential (life smart)

• Interpersonal (people smart)

• Bodily-kinesthetic (body smart)

• Linguistic (word smart)

• Intra-personal (self smart)

• Spatial (picture smart)

The 9 Types of Intelligence

Here is an overview of the multiple intelligences theory, summarised by ASCD [2]:

1. Naturalist Intelligence

Naturalist intelligence designates the human ability to discriminate among living things (plants, animals) as well as sensitivity to other features of the natural world (clouds, rock configurations). This ability was clearly of value in our evolutionary past as hunters, gatherers, and farmers; it continues to be central in such roles as botanists or chefs. It is also speculated that much of our consumer society exploits the naturalist intelligences, which can be mobilised in the discrimination among cars, sneakers, kinds of makeup, and the like.

2. Musical Intelligence

Musical intelligence is the capacity to discern pitch, rhythm, timbre, and tone. This intelligence enables us to recognise, create, reproduce, and reflect on music, as demonstrated by composers, conductors, musicians, vocalists, and sensitive listeners. Interestingly, music and emotions often connect effectively, and mathematical and musical intelligences may share common thinking processes. Young adults with this are usually singing or drumming to themselves. They are generally quite aware of sounds others may miss.

3. Logical-Mathematical Intelligence

Logical-mathematical intelligence is calculating, quantifying, considering propositions and hypotheses, and carrying out complete mathematical operations. It enables us to perceive relationships and connections and to use abstract, symbolic thought, sequential reasoning skills, and inductive and deductive thinking patterns. Logical intelligence is usually well-developed in mathematicians, scientists, and detectives. Young adults with lots of logic are interested in patterns, categories, and relationships. They are drawn to arithmetic problems, strategy games and experiments.

4. Existential Intelligence

Existential Intelligence reflects the sensitivity and capacity to tackle deep questions about human existence, such as the meaning of life, why we die, and how we get here.

5. Interpersonal Intelligence

Interpersonal intelligence is the ability to understand and interact effectively with others. It involves effective verbal and nonverbal communication, the ability to note distinctions among others, sensitivity to the moods and temperaments of others, and the ability to entertain multiple perspectives. Teachers, social workers, actors, and politicians all exhibit interpersonal intelligence. Young adults with this are leaders among their peers, are good at communicating, and seem to understand others’ feelings and motives.

6. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence

Bodily kinesthetic intelligence is the capacity to manipulate objects and use various physical skills. It involves a sense of timing and the perfection of skills through mind–body union. Athletes, dancers, surgeons, and craftspeople exhibit well-developed bodily kinesthetic intelligence.

7. Linguistic Intelligence

Linguistic intelligence is the ability to think in words and to use language to express and appreciate complex meanings. These people can understand the order and meaning of words and apply meta-linguistic skills to reflect on their use of language. This is the most widely shared human competence evident in poets, novelists, journalists, and influential public speakers. Young adults with this enjoy writing, reading, telling stories or doing crossword puzzles.

8. Intrapersonal Intelligence

Intrapersonal intelligence is the capacity to understand oneself and one’s thoughts and feelings and use such knowledge to plan and direct one’s life. It involves an appreciation of not only the self but also of the human condition. Intrapersonal intelligence is evident in psychologists, spiritual leaders, and philosophers. These young adults may be shy, but they are very aware of their feelings and are self-motivated.

9. Spatial Intelligence

Spatial intelligence is the ability to think in three dimensions. Core capacities include mental imagery, spatial reasoning, image manipulation, graphic and artistic skills, and an active imagination. Sailors, pilots, sculptors, painters, and architects exhibit spatial intelligence. Young adults with this may be fascinated with mazes or jigsaw puzzles, or spend free time drawing or daydreaming.

(Armstrong, Thomas. Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom, 3rd ed. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2009.)

Intelligence in Schools

The schools only respect or value certain forms of intelligence; the rest of us feel we have failed. The school system is based on Victorian ideology rather than the need for modern-day innovation.  We need all the skills we have to navigate this uncertain future. 

We all have something to contribute to society by being ourselves. The education system needs to evolve for the future; it will never.