Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory

The concept of multiple intelligences is a theory proposed by Harvard psychologist Howard

Gardner. Intelligence is often defined as our intellectual potential; something we are born with,
something that can be measured, and a capacity that is difficult to change.

Gardner first outlined his theory in his 1983 book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple
Intelligences, where he suggested that all people have different kinds of "intelligences."

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

1. Visual-Spatial Intelligence

People who are strong in visual-spatial intelligence are good at visualizing things. These
individuals are often good with directions as well as maps, charts, videos, and pictures.5

Strengths

Visual and spatial judgment

Characteristics

People with visual-spatial intelligence:

Read and write for enjoyment, Are good at putting puzzles together, Interpret pictures,
graphs, and charts well, Enjoy drawing, painting, and the visual arts, Recognize patterns easily

Potential Career Choices

If you're strong in visual-spatial intelligence, good career choices for you are:

Architect, Artist, Engineer

2. Linguistic-Verbal Intelligence

People who are strong in linguistic-verbal intelligence are able to use words well, both when
writing and speaking. These individuals are typically very good at writing stories, memorizing
information, and reading.1

Strengths

Words, language, and writing

Characteristics

People with linguistic-verbal intelligence:

Remember written and spoken information, Enjoy reading and writing, Debate or give
persuasive speeches, Are able to explain things well, Use humour when telling stories

Potential Career Choices

 If you're strong in linguistic-verbal intelligence, good career choices for you are:

Writer/journalist, Lawyer, Teacher

3. Logical-Mathematical Intelligence

People who are strong in logical-mathematical intelligence are good at reasoning, recognizing
patterns, and logically analysing problems. These individuals tend to think conceptually about
numbers, relationships, and patterns.6

Strengths

Analyzing problems and mathematical operations

Characteristics

People with logical-mathematical intelligence:

Have excellent problem-solving skills, Enjoy thinking about abstract ideas, Like conducting
scientific experiments, Can solve complex computations

Potential Career Choices

If you're strong in logical-mathematical intelligence, good career choices for you are:

Scientist, Mathematician, Computer programmer, Engineer, Accountant

4. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence

Those who have high bodily-kinesthetic intelligence are said to be good at body movement,
performing actions, and physical control. People who are strong in this area tend to have excellent
hand-eye coordination and dexterity.6

Strengths

Physical movement, motor control

Characteristics

People with bodily-kinesthetic intelligence:

Are skilled at dancing and sports, Enjoy creating things with his or her hands, Have excellent
physical coordination, Remember by doing, rather than hearing or seeing

Potential Career Choices

If you're strong in bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, good career choices for you are:

Craftsperson, Dancer, Builder, Surgeon, Sculptor, Actor

 5. Musical Intelligence

People who have strong musical intelligence are good at thinking in patterns, rhythms, and
sounds. They have a strong appreciation for music and are often good at musical composition and
performance.7

Strengths

Rhythm and music

Characteristics

People with musical intelligence:

Enjoy singing and playing musical instruments, Recognize musical patterns and tones easily,
Remember songs and melodies, Have a rich understanding of musical structure, rhythm, and
notes

Potential Career Choices

If you're strong in musical intelligence, good career choices for you are:

Musician, Composer, Singer, Music teacher, Conductor

6. Interpersonal Intelligence

Those who have strong interpersonal intelligence are good at understanding and interacting with
other people. These individuals are skilled at assessing the emotions, motivations, desires, and
intentions of those around them.7

Strengths

Understanding and relating to other people

Characteristics

People with interpersonal intelligence:

Communicate well verbally, Are skilled at nonverbal communication, See situations from
different perspectives, Create positive relationships with others, Resolve conflicts in group
settings

Potential Career Choices

If you're strong in interpersonal intelligence, good career choices for you are:

Psychologist, Philosopher, Counselor, Salesperson, Politician

 7. Intrapersonal Intelligence

Individuals who are strong in intrapersonal intelligence are good at being aware of their own
emotional states, feelings, and motivations. They tend to enjoy self-reflection and analysis, including
daydreaming, exploring relationships with others, and assessing their personal strengths.7

Strengths

Introspection and self-reflection

Characteristics

People with intrapersonal intelligence:

Analyse their strengths and weaknesses well, enjoy analysing theories and ideas, Have
excellent self-awareness, and understand the basis for his or her own motivations and feelings

Potential Career Choices

If you're strong in intrapersonal intelligence, good career choices for you are:

Philosopher, Writer, Theorist, Scientist

8. Naturalistic Intelligence

Naturalistic is the most recent addition to Gardner’s theory and has been met with more
resistance than his original seven intelligences. According to Gardner, individuals who are high in this
type of intelligence are more in tune with nature and are often interested in nurturing, exploring the
environment, and learning about other species. These individuals are said to be highly aware of even
subtle changes to their environments.1

Strengths

Finding patterns and relationships to nature

Characteristics

People with naturalistic intelligence:

Are interested in subjects such as botany, biology, and zoology, Categorize and catalogue
information easily, Enjoy camping, gardening, hiking, and exploring the outdoors, dislikes
learning unfamiliar topics that have no connection to nature

Potential Career Choices

If you're strong in naturalistic intelligence, good career choices for you are:

Biologist, Conservationist, Gardener, Farmer

Theories of Intelligence in Psychology

9. Existential Intelligence

Existential intelligence is the ninth type of intelligence suggested as an addition to Gardner's

original theory. He described existential intelligence as an ability to delve into deeper questions
about life and existence. People with this type of intelligence contemplate the "big" questions about
topics such as the meaning of life and how actions can serve larger goals.

Strengths

An ability to see the big picture

Characteristics

People with existential intelligence:

Have a long-term outlook, consider how current actions influence future outcomes, Interest in
questions about the meaning of life and death, Strong interest and concern for others, the
ability to see situations from an outside perspective

Potential Career Choices

If you have a strong sense of existential intelligence, you might enjoy a career as a:

Philosopher, Theologian, Pastoral counsellor, Pastor

Robert Sternberg's Mental Self-Government Theory

According to this theory, people can be understood in terms of the functions, forms, levels,
scope, and leanings of government. People do not exhibit just one style or another, but they do have
preferences across various kinds of tasks and situations.

Functions

There are three functions of government in the theory: legislative, executive, and judicial. Each
style is described below.

Legislative - The legislatively oriented student has a predilection for tasks, projects, and
situations that require creation, formulation, planning of ideas, strategies, products, and the like.
This kind of individual likes to decide what to do and how to do it, rather than to be told.

Executive - The executively oriented individual has a predilection for tasks, projects, and
situations that provide structure, procedures, or rules to work with, and that, although modifiable,
can serve as guidelines to measure progress. Whereas the legislatively oriented individual likes to
decide what to and how to do it, the executively oriented student will often prefer to be told what to
do, and will then give it his or her best shot at doing it well.

Judicial - The judicially oriented individual has a predilection for tasks, projects, and
situations that require evaluation, analysis, comparison–contrast, and judgment of existing ideas,
strategies, projects, and the like. This individual tends to be evaluative of others, sometimes on the
basis of minimal information.

Forms

There are four different forms of mental self-government in the theory: monarchic,
hierarchic, oligarchic, and anarchic.

Monarchic - The monarchic individual has a predilection for tasks, projects, and
situations that allow complete focus on one thing or aspect at a time until it is complete. A
monarchically oriented individual is single-minded and often driven, and likes to finish one thing
before moving on to the next.

Hierarchic - The hierarchic individual has a predilection for tasks, projects, and
situations that allow creation of a hierarchy of goals to fulfill. This individual likes to do multiple
things in a given time frame, but assigns differential priorities for getting them done. Hierarchic
people tend to be adaptive in many settings where it is necessary to set priorities for getting certain
things done before others, or where it is necessary to decide that some things are more worthy of
attention than are others.

Oligarchic - The oligarchic individual has a predilection for tasks, projects, and situations
that allow working with competing approaches, with multiple aspects or goals that are equally
important. This individual, like the hierarchically oriented one, likes to do multiple things within a
given time frame, but has trouble setting priorities for which to get done when. The oligarchically
oriented individual thus adapts well if the competing demands are of roughly equal priority, but has
more trouble if the things are of different priorities.

Anarchic - The anarchic individual has a predilection for tasks, projects, and situations
that lend themselves to great flexibility of approaches, and to trying anything when, where, and how
he or she pleases. This individual tends to be asystematic or even antisystematic. The individual tends
to take a random approach to problems, and is sometimes difficult for other people to understand.

Levels

There are two levels of mental self-government: local and global.

Local - The local individual has a predilection for tasks, projects, and situations that
require engagement with specific, concrete details. This individual likes to work with the nitty-gritty,
but may lose the forest for the trees. Individuals displaying this style tend to enjoy tasks that
require them to keep track of details and focus on concrete specifics of a situation.

Global - The global individual has a predilection for tasks, projects, and situations that
require engagement with large, global, abstract ideas. This individual likes to deal with big ideas, but
sometimes can lose touch with the details—the individual may see the forest but lose track of the
trees. People employing this style enjoy tasks that encourage them to think about major ideas and not
have to worry about details.

Scope

There are two scopes of mental self-government: internal and external.

Internal - The internal individual has a predilection for tasks, projects, and situations
that require activities that allow one to work independently of others. This individual prefers to work
alone, is typically introverted, and is often uncomfortable in groups.

External - The external individual has a predilection for tasks, projects, and situations that
allow working with others in a group or interacting with others at different stages of progress. This
individual prefers to work with others, is typically extraverted, and is very comfortable in group
settings.

Leanings

There are two leanings of mental self-government: liberal and conservative.

Liberal - The liberal individual has a predilection for tasks, projects, and situations that
involve unfamiliarity, going beyond existing rules or procedures, and maximization of change.
Sometimes the individual may prefer change simply for the sake of change, even when it is not ideal.
People displaying a liberal style like new challenges and thrive on ambiguity.

Conservative - The conservative individual has a predilection for tasks, projects, and
situations that require adherence to existing rules and procedures. This individual likes to minimize
change and avoid ambiguity.
 GIVE STEPS ON HOW ONE CAN MAINTAIN HIS/HER COGNITIVE FUNCTION

Cognitive health — the ability to clearly think, learn, and remember — is an important
component of performing everyday activities. Cognitive health is just one aspect of overall brain
health.

What Is Brain Health?

Brain health refers to how well a person’s brain functions across several areas. Aspects of
brain health include:

Cognitive health — how well you think, learn, and remember

Motor function — how well you make and control movements, including balance

Emotional function — how well you interpret and respond to emotions (both pleasant and unpleasant)

Tactile function — how well you feel and respond to sensations of touch — including pressure, pain,
and temperature

Brain health can be affected by age-related changes in the brain, injuries such as stroke or
traumatic brain injury, mood disorders such as depression, substance use disorder or addiction, and
diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. While some factors affecting brain health cannot be changed,
there are many lifestyle changes that might make a difference.

A growing body of scientific research suggests that the following steps are linked to cognitive
health. Small changes may really add up: Making these parts of your routine could help you function
better.

 Take Care of Your Physical Health

 Manage High Blood Pressure
 Eat Healthy Foods
 Be Physically Active
 Keep Your Mind Active
 Stay Connected with Social Activities
 Manage Stress
 Reduce Risks to Cognitive Health