Intelligence

As per definition: intelligence is the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations; it is also a skilled use of reason and the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate an environment.

Intelligence is the ability to use abstract thinking to measure and objective criteria, for example when doing a test. The traditional theory of intelligence it is based on two fundamental statements: humans have a unitary cognition, and individuals could have a single or quantifiable intelligence. Howard Gardner has developed a new theory in which he demonstrated that intelligence is a pluralistic phenomenon rather than a static single type of intelligence. He defined intelligence as the ability to solve problems encountered in real life, generating new problems to solve and the ability to make something valuable for one’s culture. He was able to identify seven types of intelligence during his research among different cultures which are: verbal/linguistic, logical/mathematical, musical, visual/spatial, body/kinesthetic, interpersonal and intrapersonal.

These are all equally valuable and viable however depending on cultural factors there are some of these types that are more favorable than others. For example in our western culture the two types of intelligence reinforced are verbal/linguistic and logical/mathematical. Intelligence increases as we develop and is influenced by the amount and quality of exposure we encounter.

Gardner’s theory helps children improve their abilities towards all seven types of intelligence fields honoring strengths and weakness within classroom settings. Every individual is smart to varying degrees in each of these intelligence more empathetic in some ways and less developed in others. When working on developing our intelligence first, it is important to identify strengths and weaknesses to be able to train and develop as many or all of these types of intelligence as possible, through practices and activities that help children learn and build strongest assets.