How Smart Are You?

Types of Intelligence

What does it mean to say that someone is or is not intelligent? Intelligence is certainly not a concrete entity that can be quantified, like the amount of water in a jug. Psychologist have come out with many definitions of intelligence and the closest to the standard dictionary definition: Intelligence is the ability to solve problems well and to understand and learn complex material. Researchers also typically stress that a key aspect of intelligence is the ability to adapt to the environment. (Source: “Psychology”, Kosslyn & Rosenberg)

Psychologist developed a very influential view of intelligence which is known as multiple intelligence and it takes more than one way to shine. Basically there are 8 forms of intelligence (however, I came across latest findings that researchers discovered 9 forms of intelligence. I will keep it update in this post).

1. Linguistic intelligence: The ability to use language well, as relied on by journalists and lawyers.
2. Spatial intelligence: The ability to reason well about spatial relations, as relied on by architects and surgeons.
3. Musical intelligence: The ability to compose and understand music, as relied on by audio engineers and musicians.
4. Logical-mathematical intelligence: The ability to manipulate abstract symbols, as used by scientists and computer programmer.
5. Bodily-kinestetic intelligence: The ability to plan and understand sequences of movements, as drawn on by dancers and athletes.
6. Intrapersonal intelligence: The ability to understand oneself, as used by clergy (people in religious duty).
7. Interpersonal intelligence: The ability to understand other people and social interactions, as used by politicians and teachers.
8. Naturalist intelligence: The ability to observe carefully, as used by forest rangers.
9. Existential intelligence: The ability to address “the big questions” about existence (the newest findings by Gardner)

What is IQ?

IQ is a short form of Intelligence Quotient, a test score used in the Western countries as a general measure of intelligence. To understand the IQ test, and the meaning of IQ scores, it will be helpful to see how this test has evolved over time. In Malaysia, the tests include UPSR, PMR, SPM, STPM. However, local communities under government pressure to produce results, it is worried that the essential nature of intelligence is grossly distorted by the political influence.

Intelligence definition is different between cultures. The difference between East and West may be due to the differences in the kinds of skills valued by the two kinds of cultures. Western cultures and their school emphasize what might be called “technological intelligence” and things like artificial intelligence. Western schooling also emphasize other factors such as generalization, or going beyond the information given, speed, minimal moves to solution and creative thinking. Moreover, silence is interpreted as a lack of knowledge. (Source: “Wisdom, Intelligence and Creativity Synthesized”, Robert J. Sternberg).