Chapter 10: INTELLIGENCE

CHAPTER X

INTELLIGENCE

·         Intelligence is an umbrella term that describes related abilities such as comprehension, communication, reasoning, planning and problem solving.

THREE CATEGORIES OF THE DEFINITION OF INTELLIGENCE

A.      Popular Concepts – ability to see relevant relationships in problem solving in people, ability to acquire a wide variety of information rapidly and easily, ability to retain and understand instruction, ability to reason well in a variety of media or to see more creative possibilities in a particular situation

B.      Scientific Concepts – intelligence is conceptualized as a person’s ultimate level of functioning, defined by mechanical efficiency of his nervous system and determined by both heredity and environmental factors

C.      Technical Concepts – defined intelligence operationally in terms of critical abilities known as mental processes

FACTORS AFFECTING INTELLIGENCE

1.       BIOLOGICAL- intelligence is somewhat dependent on individual’s brain structure and the genes that shape that brain development.

2.       ENVIRONMENTAL- describes that family’s environmental factors substantially affects intelligence.

THE THEORY OF MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES

Howard Gardner proposes Multiple Intelligence  to understand the concept of intelligence. He believed that individuals manifested by variety of intelligence. The theory's nine currently accepted intelligences are: (Educational Psychology, Robert Slavin. 2009, 117)

1.       SPATIAL- this refers to the ability to perceive forms and shapes accurately and ability visualize with the mind's eye.

2.       BODILY-KENISTHETIC- control of one's bodily motions and the capacity to handle objects skillfully.

3.       LOGICAL-MATHEMATICAL- this area has to do with logic, abstractions, reasoning and numbers.

4.       LINGUISTIC- this area has to do with words, spoken or written.

5.       INTRAPERSONAL -this area has to do with introspective and self-reflective capacities.

6.       INTERPERSONAL- this area has to do with interaction with others

7.        NATURALISTIC -this area has to do with nature, nurturing and relating information to one’s natural surroundings.

8.       MUSICAL- this area has to do with sensitivity to sounds, rhythms, tones, and music.

9.        EXISTENTIAL- ability to contemplate phenomena or questions beyond sensory data, such as the infinite and infinitesimal.

(Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences, 2009)

Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

Ø  Robert Sternberg proposes the theory that describes three fundamental aspects of intelligence.

1.       Analytic intelligence comprises the mental processes through which intelligence is expressed.

2.        Creative intelligence is necessary when an individual is confronted with a challenge that is nearly.

3.       Practical intelligence is bound in a sociocultural milieu and involves adaptation to, selection of, and shaping of the environment to maximize fit in the context

INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT TEST (IQ TEST)

                -is a score derived from one of several different standardized tests designed to assess intelligence.

WELL-KNOWN IQ TEST

1.       Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

2.       Purdue Non-Language Test (PNLT)

3.       RAVENS

MENTAL RETARDATION

-          Result of pathological process in the brain characterized by limitations in intellectual and adaptive function. (synopsis of psychiatry 9^th edition)

-          Appearing before adulthood, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors.

LEVELS OF MENTAL RETARDATION

1.       Mild retardation

-          IQ levels of 55 to 69

-          Mildly retarded children often go undiagnosed until they are well into their school years.

-          They are often slower to walk, talk, and feed themselves than most other children. They can learn practical skills, including reading and math, up to about the fourth to sixth grade level.

-          Mildly retarded adults usually build social and job skills and can live on their own.

2.       Moderate retardation

-          have IQs ranging from 40 to 54

-          Children who are moderately retarded show noticeable delays in developing speech and motor skills.

-          Moderately retarded adults usually cannot live alone, but they can do some simple tasks and travel alone in familiar places.

3.       Severe retardation

-          IQs ranging from 20 to 39.

-           Their condition is likely to be diagnosed at birth or soon after.

-           Adults who are severely mentally retarded may be able to follow daily routines and perform simple tasks, but they need to be directed and live in a protected environment.

4.       Profound retardation

-           IQs of 0 to 24

-           Their condition is usually diagnosed at birth, and they may have other medical problems and need nursing care.

-          Children who are profoundly retarded need to be continuously supervised. These children show delays in all aspects of development.

They cannot take care of themselves and need complete support in daily living.