Defining Intelligence

Intelligence is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as being the capacity to acquire and apply knowledge. When knowledge is spoken of, it is generally used in terms of education. The extent of education a person has achieved is then what most often determines how much knowledge one has accumulated. Nevertheless, with this definition of intelligence in mind, one might possibly consider the average person to be intelligent. After all, even a person who has never gone to school a day in their life is capable of acquiring knowledge and applying it to some area of their life. Acquiring and applying knowledge could be something as simple as being shown how to mop a floor and then conducting the job using the newly gained know-how.

What one might gather from these different perspectives on intelligence is that any human being has some degree of intellect. A couple of theorists who developed theories based on views such as these were Howard Gardner and Robert Sternberg. They each offered compelling theories that originated from the viewpoint that a child’s intelligence can be thought of as a number of specific abilities (Santrock, 2009, pg. 300).

Howard Gardner proposed that there are eight types of intelligence. He suggested that everyone has all of these intelligences to some varying degree. The eight frames of mind that he suggested were: verbal, mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist (Santrock, 2009, pg. 301).

Robert Sternberg developed the triarchic theory of intelligence. This theory states that intelligence comes in three forms: analytical intelligence, creative intelligence, and practical intelligence (Santrock, 2009, pg. 300).

To sum up these two theorie...

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...would watch together. The talking animals amused her more than anything. Nevertheless, even though she may not come across as intelligent to most people, I know she is. She can feel when others are hurting or when they are excited. Of course, she may not understand everything to full capacity, but I know she understands much more than people want to give her credit for.

All in all, this sums up my opinion of intelligence. So called “smart people” are not the only ones capable of being placed in the intelligent category. Education means a lot and does even more for people in terms of making them smarter and earning them a way of living, but it is not everything. I believe intelligence goes much deeper.

References

Santrock, J. W. (2009). Life-span Development: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle and Late Childhood (12th ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill