Question

Explain various perspectives on intelligence with suitable examples.

Answer 1

Many psychologists believe that intelligence is a single, global ability. On the other hand, many other psychologists believe that intelligence encompasses several different abilities. These two main perspectives on intelligence are as follows:

1. Intelligence as a single, general ability: Psychologists who believe in the unitary notion of intelligence explain that only the functions of intelligence take different forms but basically it is the same ability. Alfred Binet, Lewis Terman, David Wechsler believed that intelligence is a single entity.
2. Intelligence as a set of multiple abilities: Psychologists like E. L. Thorndike, Louis Thurstone, Charles Spearman, etc. came up with the notion that multiple abilities are involved in intelligence. This perspective on intelligence is explained in the following table:
   1. E. L. Thorndike: E. L. Thorndike put forth three independent abilities that can be called intelligence. These abilities are
      (1) Abstract intelligence
      (2) Social intelligence and
      (3) Concrete intelligence.
   2. Louis Thurstone: Louis Thurstone proposed seven primary abilities, each independent of the other that can be called intelligence.
   3. Charles Spearman: In 1927, Charles Spearman with the help of a statistical method called factor analysis separated and identified two different factors of intelligence viz.
      (1) General factor (g) and
      (2) Specific factor (s).
   4. Raymond Cattell and John Horn: Raymond Cattell with his student John Horn proposed a theory of intelligence explaining two types of intelligence viz.
      (1) Fluid intelligence and
      (2) Crystallized intelligence.
   5. Howard Gardner: Howard Gardner in his theory of multiple intelligence asserted that there are nine independent types of intelligence that grow and develop differently in different people, depending upon the individuals heredity characteristics or environmental experiences.