Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences

“An intelligence is the ability to solve problems, or to create products, that are
valued within one or more cultural settings.”

Howard Gardner FRAMES OF MIND (1983)

Introduction

The theory of multiple intelligences was

first proposed by Howard Gardner in his
1983 book “Frames of Mind”, where he
broadens the definition of intelligence
and outlines several distinct types of
intellectual competencies.
Gardner developed a series of eight
inclusion criteria while evaluating each
"candidate” intelligence that was based
on a variety of scientific disciplines.
He writes that we may all have these
intelligences, but our profile of these
intelligence may differ individually based
on genetics or experience.

Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence
(“word smart” or “book smart”)

This intelligence involves the knowing which comes through language; through reading,
writing, and speaking. It involves understanding the order and meaning of words in both
speech and writing and how to properly use the language. It involves understanding the
sociocultural nuances of a language, including idioms, plays on words, and linguistically-
based humor.

If this is a strong intelligence for you, you have highly developed skills for reading, speaking,
and writing and you tend to think in words. You probably like various kinds of literature,
playing word games, making up poetry and stories, engaging in involved discussions with
other people, debating, formal speaking, creative writing, and telling jokes. You are likely
precise in expressing yourself and irritated when others are not! You love learning new words,
you do well with written assignments, and your comprehension of anything you read is high.

Mathematical-Logical Intelligence
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 (“math smart” or “logic smart”)

This intelligence uses numbers, math, and logic to find and understand the various patterns
that occur in our lives: thought patterns, number patterns, visual patterns, color patters, and so
on. It begins with concrete patterns in the real world but gets increasingly abstract as we try to
understand relationships of the patterns we have seen.

If you happen to be a logical-mathematically inclined person you tend to think more

conceptually and abstractly and are often able to see patterns and relationships that others
miss. You probably like to conduct experiments, to solve puzzles and other problems, to ask
cosmic questions, and analyze circumstances and people’s behavior. You most likely enjoy
working with numbers and mathematical formulas and operations, and you love the challenge
of a complex problem to solve. You are probably systematic and organized, and you likely
always have a logical rationale or argument for what you are doing or thinking at any given
time.

Visual-Spatial Intelligence
(“art smart” or “picture smart”)

We often say “A picture is worth a thousand words!” or “Seeing is believing!” This intelligence
represents the knowing that occurs through the shapes, images, patterns, designs, and
textures we see with our external eyes, but also includes all of the images we are able to
conjure inside our heads.

If you are strong in this intelligence you tend to think in images and pictures. You are likely
very aware of object, shapes, colors, textures, and patterns in the environment around you.
You probably like to draw, paint, and make interesting designs and patterns, and work with
clay, colored markers, construction paper, and fabric. Many who are strong in visual-spatial
intelligence love to work jigsaw puzzles, read maps and find their way around new places.
You probably have definite opinions about colors that go together well, textures that are
appropriate and pleasing, and how a room should be decorated. And, you are likely excellent
at performing tasks that require “seeing with the mind’s eyes,” such as visualizing, pretending,
imagining, and forming mental images.

Intrapersonal Intelligence
(“self smart” or “introspection smart”)

“self smart” or “introspection smart”). At the heart of this intelligence are our human self-
reflective abilities by which we can step outside of ourselves and think about our own lives.
This is the introspective intelligence. It involves our uniquely human propensity to want to
know the meaning, purpose, and significance of things. It involves our awareness of the inner
world of the self, emotions, values, beliefs, and our various quests for genuine spirituality.

If this intelligence is one of your strong points you may like to work alone and sometimes you
may shy away from others. You are probably self-reflective and self-aware and thus you tend
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to be in tune with your inner feelings, values, beliefs, and thinking processes. You are
frequently bearers of creative wisdom and insight, are highly intuitive, and you are inwardly
motivated rather than needing external rewards to keep you going. You are often strong
willed, self-confident, and have definite, well-thought out opinions on almost any issue. Other
people will often come to you for advice and counsel.

Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
("body smart" or "movement smart")

We often talk about “learning by doing.” This way of knowing happens through physical
movement and through the knowing of our physical body. The body “knows” many things that
are not necessarily known by the conscious, logical mind, such as how to ride a bike, how to
parallel park a car, dance the waltz, catch a thrown object, maintain balance while walking,
and where the keys are on a computer keyboard.

If you have strength in this intelligence area you tend to have a keen sense of body
awareness. You like physical movement, dancing, making and inventing things with your
hands, and role- playing. You probably communicate well through body language and other
physical gestures. You can often perform a task much better after seeing someone else do it
first and then mimicking their actions. You probably like physical games of all kinds and you
like to demonstrate how to do something for someone else. You may find it difficult to sit still
for long periods of time and are easily bored or distracted if you are not actively involved in
what is going on around you.

Interpersonal
(“people smart” or “group smart”)
This is the person-to-person way of knowing. It is the knowing that happens when we work
with and relate to other people, often as part of a team. This way of knowing also asks use to
develop a whole range of social skills that are needed for effective person-to-person
communication and relating.

If this person-to-person way of knowing is more developed in you, you learn through personal
interactions. You probably have lots of friends, show a great deal of empathy for other people
and

exhibit a deep understanding of other points of view. You probably love team activities of all
kinds and are a good team member--you “pull your own weight” and often much more! You
are sensitive to other people’s feelings and ideas, and are good at piggybacking your ideas
on others’ thoughts. And you are likely skilled at drawing others out in a discussion. You are
also probably skilled in conflict resolution, mediation, and finding compromise when people
are in radical opposition to each other.

Naturalist Intelligence
(“nature smart” or “environment smart”)

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The naturalist intelligence involves the full range of knowing that occurs in and through our
encounters with the natural world including our recognition, appreciation, and understanding
of the natural environment. It involves such capacities as species discernment, communion
with the natural world and its phenomena, and the ability to recognize and classify various
flora and fauna.

If the naturalist intelligence is one of your strengths you have a profound love for the outdoors,
animals, plants, and almost any natural object. You are probably fascinated by and noticeably
affected by such things as the weather, changing leaves in the fall, the sound of the wind, the
warm sun or lack thereof, or an insect in the room. At a young age you were likely nature
collectors, adding such things as bugs, rocks leaves, seashells, sticks, and so on to your
collections. You probably brought home all manner and kinds of stray animals and today you
may have several pets and want more. You tend to have an affinity with and respect for all
living beings.

Musical-Rhythmic Intelligence
(“music smart” or “sound smart”)

This is the knowing that happens through sound and vibration. In the original research on the
theory of multiple intelligences this intelligence was called musical-rhythmic intelligence.
However, it is not limited to music and rhythm so I am calling it auditory-vibrational, for it deals
with the whole realm of sound, tones, beats, and vibrational patterns as well as music.

If you are strong in this intelligence area you likely have a love of music and rhythmic patterns.
You are probably very sensitive to sounds in the environment: the chirp of cricket, rain on the
roof, varying traffic patterns. You may study and work better with music in the background.
You can often reproduce a melody or rhythmic pattern after hearing it only once. Various
sounds, tones, and rhythms may have a visible effect on you--others can often see a change
in facial expressions, body movement, or emotional responses. You probably like to create
music and you enjoy listening to a wide variety of music. You may be skilled at mimicking
sounds, language accents, and others’ speech patterns, and you can probably readily
recognize different musical instruments in a composition.

Existentialist Intelligence
(the possible addition of intelligences)
Gardner proposed that there are eight intelligences, and he has suggested the possible addition of
a ninth known as "existentialist intelligence.

In its essence, existential intelligence is the ability to use intuition, thought and meta-cognition to
ask (and answer) deep questions about human existence. Those of us who are inherently
existential ask questions such as: Who are we? Why are we alive? Do we have a purpose? Why
and how are we conscious? What is the meaning of life? In many ways, it takes a certain level of
courage to tackle grand questions and age-old mysteries that have taunted humanity for millennia.

Adapted from various sources including

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 JaiperJAM www.achieve-goal-setting-success.com
© 2007

Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence - Test

Read each statement quickly and put a "y" in the non-coloured column if that statement DEFINITELY applies to you, and put an "n" in the
column if you disagree with the statement or if the statement isn't totally true for you. See the example for how to complete. Remember,
the test will only be accurate if you're honest with yourself - so complete the test based on what you actually think and feel, not on how you
think you should or want to feel.

Statement Do you agree with this statement?

Example:
I think best when doing something physical like jogging Y
I have always dreamed of being a musician or singer N
I am deeply saddened by the state of climate change and animal extinction/ cruelty N
I prefer to see drawings and diagrams of how things work Y

Start your HGMI Test Here…

I think best when doing something physical like jogging
I have always dreamed of being a musician or singer
I am deeply saddened by the state of climate change and animal extinction/ cruelty
I prefer to see drawings and diagrams of how things work
My pet is also one of my best friends - I couldn't bare to be without them.
I like taking photos
I remember facts, figures and formulas easily
I learn best by practicing skills, rather than reading about them or having someone show me.
I sing in the shower and often sing to myself
I always ask "Why" rather than "what" or "how"
I enjoy scary movies and thrilling rides - I'm a bit of a dare-devil
I prefer to read the newspaper or listen to the radio rather than watch TV.
I enjoy reading, debates and discussions
People often come to me for a chat
I would prefer to go to the opera or concert
I would rather go to a party or social gathering than sit at home by myself
I can work out mechanical things and how to fix them
I like forming rational explanations of events
I have hobbies or play sports that involve only me
I can visualise how things would look from a different angle
At school I really enjoyed biology and natural sciences like geography
I am sensitive to colour and aesthetics
At school, I found English and social studies like history easier than maths and science
I fidget and can't still for long
I'm good at throwing and catching
I always read the instructions first
I am good at debates and resolving disputes
I find that music affects my mood - I'm happy when I sing, sad songs make me sad, etc.
I am fascinated by philosophical questions like "what is the meaning of life?"
I'm good at using my hands and enjoy hobbies like timberwork, craft, etc.
I listen to grammar and choice of words when talking to someone
I'm a diligent recycler and strive to reduce energy and water use where I can
I enjoy art and seem to be able to arrange artwork just right
I often reflect on events and question what they mean
I like to learn about myself and my feelings
I get a buzz out of writing a good piece, or being recognised for good writing
I see counselling and mediation as beneficial ways of self-reflection
I have an impressive collection of music that I couldn't bare to part with
I get upset when other people are upset
I like watching science/nature documentaries
I enjoy jigsaw puzzles and other visual puzzles
I have a library of books that I couldn't bare to part with
I enjoy challenging experiences and activities
I like to spend my spare time outdoors doing something
My friends think I have a computer-brain
I am a natural leader and can get people to come around to my train of thought
I play a musical instrument
I have lots of pictures and photographs in my house
At school I really enjoyed sciences like astronomy and creation/ evolution.
I like spending time alone
I can do maths in my head
I am realistic about my abilities and limitations
I can read and interpret maps easily - I never get lost
I am a very social person
 JaiperJAM www.achieve-goal-setting-success.com
© 2007

Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence - Test

Read each statement quickly and put a "y" in the non-coloured column if that statement DEFINITELY applies to you, and put an "n" in the
column if you disagree with the statement or if the statement isn't totally true for you. See the example for how to complete. Remember,
the test will only be accurate if you're honest with yourself - so complete the test based on what you actually think and feel, not on how you
think you should or want to feel.

Statement Do you agree with this statement?

I find it easy to remember quotes and phrases and weave them into conversations
I can easily pick up on people's feelings and body language
I can sing in tune and tell when a note is off-key
My friends think I'm a bit of a green thumb
As a kid I used to hold 'concerts' for my family
My friends think I think too much
I love sport and physical activity
I am good at cross words, scrabble and other word puzzles and games
It is easy for me to make up stories
I am in touch with my feelings and know how I would react in different situations
I can manage a budget easily
I really appreciate a beautiful landscape, view or well designed garden
I value close friendships
I often see images when I dream or close my eyes
I find it easy to see how science is part of everyday life
I would rather work alone than as part of a team
I enjoy a wide range of music and can appreciate the different styles/ musicians.
I like watching documentaries on the great philosophers and philosophical debates
I am a bit of a loner
I'm good at puzzles that require logic such as chess, checkers and Sudoku
At school I was good at maths and physics (and I enjoyed it)
I think a lot about life and my future
I often use maths and logic to solve problems, eg is it cheaper to buy a certain product in bulk?
As a kid I used to really enjoy catching butterflies, frogs and watching insects
I enjoy personality profiling tests and other ways of finding out about myself
I can't understand people who can't think rationally or logically. Logic is so logical.
I prefer team sports to individual ones
At school I enjoyed geometry and art subjects
I regularly write in a personal diary or journal
I like to know how things work
People think that I crave attention - I seem to like the lime-light
I usually play background music
I often have a song, jingle or other piece of music in my head
I find it easy to identify different types of plants and animals
I tend to doodle
I systematically work through problems
I can pick up foreign languages easily
I would rather work as part of a team than on my own
At school my favourite subject was music
I have always dreamed of being a vet, botanist, geologist, archaeologist, etc.
I understand graphs and charts
I would rather be outdoors, and preferably out of the city.
I never read instructions
I have always dreamed of being a writer/ editor.
I love being with other people
I am very coordinated and am good at sports
I talk to myself
I would rather go somewhere quiet than go to a party or noisy pub
 JaiperJAM www.achieve-goal-setting-success.com
© 2007

Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence - Test

Read each statement quickly and put a "y" in the non-coloured column if that statement DEFINITELY applies to you, and put an "n" in the
column if you disagree with the statement or if the statement isn't totally true for you. See the example for how to complete. Remember,
the test will only be accurate if you're honest with yourself - so complete the test based on what you actually think and feel, not on how you
think you should or want to feel.

Statement Do you agree with this statement?

Now, add the total number of "y" in each column: No. of "Y"
Now add the total number of "n" in each column: No. of "N"

Now take the No. of "N" from the No. of "Y": "Y" minus "N"

Logical/Mathematical

Bodil/Kinesthetic
Linguistic/Verbal

Spatial/Visual

Intrapersonal

Interpersonal

Existential
Naturalist
Musical
Now plot these results on the graph below.
(See the example below/ on the next printed page)

Howard Gardner MI Test Results

12
10
8
6
4
Relative Score

2
0 Existential
Intrapersonal

Interpersonal
Logical/Mathematical
Linguistic/Verbal

Bodil/Kinesthetic

Naturalist
Musical

Spatial/Visual

-2
-4
-6
-8
-10
-12
Intelligence Type

Interpretation:

What intelligences are above the line?

What intelligences are below the line?
Are any intelligences above the line more dominant than others?
Are they all much the same?

Intelligences above the line indicate preferred intelligences, whereas intelligences below the line are the ones that you don't show any
preference towards and would be considered 'uncharacteristic for you'.

It's not unusual to have 3 (or sometimes 4-5) intelligences with a similar strength. In this case, it just shows that you are 'well balanced'
from an intelligence point of view and exhibit characteristics of several intelligence types.

Read the descriptions for all intelligence types - do you agree?

 JaiperJAM www.achieve-goal-setting-success.com
© 2007

Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence - Test

Read each statement quickly and put a "y" in the non-coloured column if that statement DEFINITELY applies to you, and put an "n" in the
column if you disagree with the statement or if the statement isn't totally true for you. See the example for how to complete. Remember,
the test will only be accurate if you're honest with yourself - so complete the test based on what you actually think and feel, not on how you
think you should or want to feel.

Statement Do you agree with this statement?

Don't agree with the outcome? Make sure you were completely honest and only said "y" to the statements that DEFINITELY describe how
you feel/ think. If any were 'doubtful', change these to "n" and recalculate.

Example:
Now, add the total number of "y" in each column: No. of "Y" 4 6 7 10 2 5 8 8 3
Now add the total number of "n" in each column: No. of "N" 8 6 5 2 10 7 4 4 9

Now take the No. of "N" from the No. of "Y": "Y" minus "N" -4 0 2 8 -8 -2 4 4 -6

Logical/Mathematical

Bodil/Kinesthetic
Linguistic/Verbal

Spatial/Visual

Intrapersonal

Interpersonal

Existential
Naturalist
Musical
Now plot these results on the graph below.

Howard Gardner MI Test Results

12
10
8
6
4
Relative Score

2
0
Existential
Intrapersonal

Interpersonal
Logical/Mathematical
Linguistic/Verbal

Bodil/Kinesthetic
Musical

Naturalist
Spatial/Visual

-2
-4
-6
-8
-10
-12
Intelligence Type