Intelligence

and
Individual
Differences
Understanding the complexities of intelligence and individual
differences is crucial in various aspects of life, from education
to workplace performance.
Intelligence
● “The ability to use memory, knowledge, experience,
understanding, reasoning, imagination and judgement in
order to solve problems and adapt to new situation.”

● “The ability to learn, understand and make judgement or

have opinions that are based on reason.”

● “The capacity to acquire and apply knowledge.”

- It can be described as the ability to perceive or infer information, and

to retain it as knowledge to be applied towards adaptive behaviors
within an environment or context.
Definition of Intelligence

1 Intellectual Capacity 2 Adaptability

Intelligence encompasses the It involves the ability to adapt to new
capacity for learning, reasoning, situations, solve problems, and learn
understanding, and problem-solving. from experiences.

3 Complexity
Intelligence is a complex, multifaceted concept influenced by various psychological
and environmental factors.
Individual Differences
● “Refers to the extent and type of distinctions among individuals, or differences on the
psychological traits, personal characteristics, cognitive and emotional components.”
(Igi.global.com)
TYPES OF DIFFERENCES
• Physical Differences
• Gender Differences
• Age Differences
• Socio-Economic Differences
• Intellectual and Academic Differences
• Intelligence
• School Achievements
• Special Aptitudes and Talents
• Personality
• Interests and Values
• Differences in Background
• Mental Age
• Moto Ability
• Differences in respect of development.
Factors Influencing Individual
Differences in Intelligence

1 Genetic Factors 2 Environmental Influences

Genetic predispositions significantly Factors like nutrition, family
contribute to individual variations in environment, education, and
intelligence levels. socioeconomic status impact
cognitive development.
BINET-SIMON INTELLIGENCE SCALE

ALBERT BINET THEODORE SIMON

• A French psychologist. • A French psychologist.
• Known for pioneering intelligence testing. • Work with Albert Binet to develop Binet-Simon scale,
• one of the widely used scales in the world for
measuring intelligence.
HISTORY
• In 1905, psychologist Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon designed the test for children who were struggling in school in France.
Designed to determine which children required individualized attention, their method formed the basis of IQ test.

• Beginning in the late 19th century, researchers hypothesized that cognitive abilities lik e verbal reasoning, work ing memory, and
visual-spatial sk ills reflected an underlying general intelligence or G factor.

SCORE X 100 = Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

AGE
• Today, a score of 100 represents the average of a sample population, with 68% of the population scoring within 15 points of 1 00.
> https://online.stat.psu.edu/stat200/lesson/2/2.2/2.2.7
> https://youtu.be/eneZPveMdqs

• Simon and Binet thought the sk ills their test assessed would reflect general intelligence. But both then and now, there’s n o single
agreed upon definition of general intelligence.

• One of the first large scale implementations occurred in the United States during WWI, when military used an IQ test to sor t
recruits and screen them for officer training.
HISTORY
• Under the influence of eugenics, scientists used the results of the military initiative to make erroneous claims that certain racial groups we
intellectually superior to others.

• In 1924, the state of Virginia created policy allowing for the force sterilization of people with low IQ scores – a decision the US Supreme Cou

• In Nazi Germany, the government authorized the murder of the children based on low IQ. Following the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Move
the discriminatory uses of IQ tests were challenged on both moral and scientific grounds. Scientist began to gather evidence of environmen
on IQ.

• IQ tests were periodically recalibrated over the 20th century.

• Instead, the cause was likely environmental – improved education, better healthcare, and better nutrition.

• In the mid-twentieth century, psychologists also attempted to use IQ tests to evaluate things other than general intelligence, particularly d
and other psychiatric conditions.

• Today, IQ tests employ many similar design elements and types of questions as the early tests, though we have better techniques for iden
potential bias in the test.

• Psychologists around the world still use IQ tests to identify intellectual disability, and the results can be used to determine appropriate edu
support, job training, and assisted living.
THE FIRST IQ TEST
• Alfred Binet also developed concepts of:

- Mental Age: chronological age that most typically corresponds to a given level of performance
- Child who does as well as the average 8 year old is said to have a mental age of 8

MENTAL AGE X 100

CHRONOLOGICAL AGE
BINET-SIMON SCALE
 Marilyn vos Savant

- American magazine columnist, author,

lecturer, and playwright.

- According to the Guinness Book of Records,

she has an IQ of 228.
STANFORD-BINET SCALE

Score
Classification
Theories of Intelligence
Psychometric Theories Cognitive Theories

Focus on the measurement of cognitive abilities Explore the mental processes involved in
and the statistical analysis of intelligence tests. intelligent behavior and problem-solving.

1. Spearman's Two-Factor Theory • Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development

2. Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences • Vygotsky's Socio-Cultural Theory
3. Sternberg's Triarchic Theory