THEORIES OF

INTELLIGENCE

ANANYA GULATI
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 Spearman’s General Intelligence
(g)
• General intelligence, also known as g factor, refers to a
general mental ability that, according to Spearman,
underlies multiple specific skills, including verbal,
spatial, numerical and mechanical.
• He established the two-factor theory of intelligence back
in 1904 (Spearman, 1904). To arrive at this theory,
Spearman used a technique known as factor analysis.
Factor analysis is a procedure through which the
correlation of related variables are evaluated to find an
underlying factor that explains this correlation.
• Spearman concluded that there is a single g-factor which
represents an individual’s general intelligence across
multiple abilities, and that a second factor, s, refers to an
individual’s specific ability in one particular area
 Thurstone’s Primary Mental
Abilities
• Thurstone (1938) challenged the
concept of a g-factor. After
analyzing data from 56 different
tests of mental abilities, he
identified a number of primary
mental abilities that comprise
intelligence, as opposed to one
general factor.
 Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences
• Following the work of Thurstone,
American psychologist Howard
Gardner built off the idea that there
are multiple forms of intelligence.
• He proposed that there is no single
intelligence, but rather distinct,
independent multiple intelligences
exist, each representing unique skills
and talents relevant to a certain
category.
 Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
• Robert Sternberg proposed a three-
category theory of intelligence,
integrating components that were
lacking in Gardner’s theory. This
theory is based on the definition of
intelligence as the ability to achieve
success based on your personal
standards and your sociocultural
context.
• According to the triarchic theory,
intelligence has three aspects:
analytical, creative, and practical
 PASS Model
• Thus the PASS model presents a comprehensive
model of intelligence. It integrates the
neuropsychological aspects, cognitive and
psychometric approaches to intelligence. Further,
it views intelligence in a contextual background
through knowledge base. PASS theory has
identified processes involved in intellectual
ability and provided various tests to measure
intelligence.