Intelligence
The ability to use knowledge to reason, make decisions, make sense of events, solve problems, understand complex ideas, learn quickly, and adpt to environmental changes
General Intelligence (Spearman)
a mental attribute that is hypothesized as contributing to the performance of virtually any intellectual task
linguistic ability + numerical ability + spatial ability
analyzed by factor analysis
analyzed by composite of diverse tasks
Intelligence Quotient (IQ) (Stern)
IQ = (mental age / chronological age) x 100
evaluation
WAIS: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
WISC: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)
verbal and performance components
biased based on culture
requirements for IQ test
good predictor of life outcomes, work performance, income, jobs requiring complex skills, life span
brain function: perceive stimuli faster, retrieve information from memory quickly, faster brain response times
validity
reliability
standardization
high test-retest reliability even over long periods of time
IQ scores markedly higher for kids placed in high SES adoptive homes
fluid intelligence ( ability to deal with new and unusual problems) dec with age
crystallized intelligence (accumulated knowledge and cognitive skills) stable with age
measured against other scores
Flynn Effect: in the past several decades intelligence scores have steadily risen by an average of 27 points
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Intelligence
Genetic
Environmental
Monozygotic twins have almost same IQ difference if raised together as if raised apart
dizygotic twins raised together still have very high similarity
IQs of adoptive children closer to those of biological parents than to adoptive parents
Early Intervention: early neglect from caregivers --> child has lack of personal control over environment --> reduced intelligence
Schooling: more schooling --> higher IQ
Poverty --> lower IQ
Group Differences
men do slightly better in visuospatial tasks
women do slightly better in verbal tasks
differences may be result of cultural environment
10-15 point difference in IQ between black and whites
disadvantaged circumstances
stereotype threat: self-confirming concern that one will be evaluated based on a negative stereotype
Triarchic Theory (Sternberg)
Analytic Intelligence: Mental steps or "components" used to solve problems
Creative Intelligence: use of experience in ways that foster insight
Practical Intelligence: ability to read and adapt to the contexts of everyday life
creativity requirements
expertise
imaginative thinking
a venturesome personality
intrinsic motivation
a creative environment
Eight Intelligences (Gardner)
Linguistic
Logical-Mathematical
Musical
Spatial
Bodily-Kinesthetic
Intrapersonal
Interpersonal
Naturalist
Savant Syndrome
developmentally disabled person who has some remarkable talent contrasting with his low level of general intelligence
Emotional Intelligence (Salovey)
Perceive Emotion
Understand Emotion
Manage Emotion
Use Emotion