Dr Shahnaz Sheibani

Faculty of Social Science Art and Humanities

 Psychology
of Intelligence
Overview

• Definition

• Main Theories of Intelligence

• Intelligence Testing
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17T3
fZIpT8I
 Psychology Of Intelligence

• Psychology of intelligence
plays a significant role in many
areas including :
• Educational program
• Job applicant screening
• Testing to identify children who
need additional academic help.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
Definition of intelligence

• Intelligence has been a topic of

debate throughout history, especially
in the field of psychology.

•There isn’t any standard definition

of intelligence to date. The concept
of intelligence can be understood in
multiple ways.
•Some theorists and researchers suggest that
intelligence is a single and general ability,
others believe that it encompasses a range of
skills and aptitudes.

•According to APA, the definition of

intelligence is the ability to acquire and apply
information, learn from experience, adapt to the
environment, understand, and correctly use
thought and reason.
Main Theories of Intelligence

• Thorndike theory
• Spearman's two-factor theory
• Psychometric theories
• Cognitive theories
• Biological theories
• Cognitive-contextual theories
• Sternberg’s triarchic theory This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

• Gardner’s theory of multiple

intelligences
 Thorndike theory
•In 1920, Edward Thorndike suggested three kinds of intelligence:

•Social Intelligence: The ability to communicate and form

relationships with empathy and assertiveness.
•Mechanical Intelligence: The ability to understand and manage
machines or objects.
•Abstract Intelligence: Abstract intelligence is the ability to
absorb information from our senses and make connections to the
deep concept. On the other hand, abstract intelligence goes under
the surface. In contrast, concrete intelligence refers to the surface
of setting and object.

•Understanding the meaning of “My dog is friendly” is an

example of concrete intelligence. But understanding the
relationships between dogs and human is an example of abstract
intelligence.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

 Spearman's two-factor theory

•g” or general intelligence: “g” factor indicates that every

task requires a combination of many abilities and skills. For
example, the verbal intelligence is a kind of “g” ability.
Because the verbal intelligence is a combination of many
skills, such as: verbal understanding, verbal reasoning, verbal
memory, solving problem by using language, and etc.

• “s” or specific intelligence: “s” factor refers to a specific

skill that is needed to a certain task such as visual-motor
coordination ability or understanding the right meaning of
the words.
 Psychometric theories

• Psychometric theories are based on a

model that suppose intelligence is the
abilities that measured by intelligence
tests.

• Psychometric theories studying the

individual differences regarding the
people scores in intelligence tests that is
called “Intelligence Quotient” (IQ).
Cognitive theories

• Cognitive theories to the intelligence

focused on the processes involved in
intelligent performance.

• These processes is from the very simple

task (such as visual perception) to the
complicated task (such as memorizing a
text).

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

 Biological theories

•Biological theories emphasize the

relationship between intelligence,
and the brain and its functions.

•From biological theories

individual differences in
intelligence are related to the
anatomical structures and
physiological functions of their
nervous system.
Cognitive-contextual theories

•Cognitive-contextual theories deal with the way that

cognitive processes operate in various settings (such as a
cultural environment).

There are two major cognitive-contextual theories:

•Sternberg’s triarchic theory

•Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

 Sternberg’s triarchic theory

•According to Robert Sternberg’s

theory there are three types of
intelligence:

Practical intelligence
Practical intelligence is a term used
to describe the ability to deal with
everyday problems and situations. It
is different from academic
intelligence, which focuses on
theoretical concepts and less on real-
world applications.
•Creative intelligence

Creative intelligence is the ability that to come up with

new ideas. People with creative intelligence tend to be
good to see the connections between different things.
They are also often good at problem-solving because they
can think outside the box and develop alternative
solutions.

Some famous examples of people who are believed to

have been highly creative Intelligence are Leonardo da
Vinci, Albert Einstein, and Steve Jobs.
Analytical intelligence

Analytical intelligence refers to

the ability to evaluate
information and solve problems.

•whenever you have to complete

a task that requires you to
compare, evaluate, analyze, or
make a logical judgment, you
are using analytical intelligence.
•https://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=1_7YDHtTURI&t=22s
Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences

• Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences suggest

that people are not born with all the intelligence they will
ever have.

• This theory challenged the traditional notion that there is one

single type of intelligence, sometimes known as “g” for
general intelligence.

• Gardner defines intelligence as a “biopsychological potential

to process information that can be activated in a cultural
setting to solve problems or create products that are of value
in a culture”.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
Here are the eight types of intelligence :
1- Logical-mathematical intelligence.
• Example: Be skilled at manipulating numbers and
operations
2- Linguistic intelligence.
• Example: Having ability to explain things well or verbal
reasoning
3- Spatial intelligence.
• Example: Good packing a suitcase or good ability to design
and building things
4- Musical Intelligence.
• Example: Recalling songs or having a sense of rhythm
5-Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence.
•Example: Skillfully dancing or enjoy creating things with
your hands
6- Intrapersonal Intelligence.
•Example: Having good ability in imagination or self-
direction
7-Interpersonal intelligence.
•Example: Communicate well verbally or being good listener
in communication
8-Naturalistic intelligence.
•Example: Having good behavior with the animal or enjoy
gardening
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au0z3EtUiBg
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2EdujrM0vA&t=17s
 The History Of Intelligence
Testing (IQ)
•William Stern(1871-1938)

He is the "father" of the idea to implement

such test in order to define one human
being' intelligence. He was a German
psychologist and philosopher noted as a
pioneer in the field of the psychology of
personality and intelligence.
• Then psychologist Alfred Binet developed the
very first intelligence tests to help the French
government identify schoolchildren who needed
extra academic assistance.

• The first IQ test ever used, the

Binet-Simon intelligence scale, was developed
in 1905 by Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon.

• Then Lewis Terman of Stanford University

adapted this test for use in the United States.
Known as the Stanford-Binet IQ test.
• David Wechsler developed the first
intelligence test for adults in 1939, the
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS
).

• It was the first to use standardized normal

distribution in scoring and is commonly
used today. It is divided into verbal and
performance (non-verbal) measures
Current Wechsler (WAIS–IV, WPPSI–IV) IQ classification

IQ Range ("deviation IQ") IQ Classification[36][37]

130 and above Very Superior

120–129 Superior

110–119 High Average

90–109 Average

80–89 Low Average

70–79 Borderline

69 and below Extremely Low

The consequences of intelligence testing

Psychometric
education,
intelligence test
health
scores have
outcomes, and
been found to
work.
predict:
Psychometric intelligence and education

•Psychometric intelligence help teachers to understand the cognitive

abilities, knowledge as well as the learning abilities of students. This is
a very useful tool in understanding the right fit for someone right from
students at school level.

•Intelligence tests (often called IQ tests) most commonly used to

diagnose any learning disabilities or intellectual disabilities among
school children to provide special education program for the.
Psychometric intelligence and health outcomes

•Studies showed there are positive relationship between intelligence with

superior adaptation and mental health and having effective self-regulation.

•Longitudinal research show that low intelligence predicts numerous mental

health problems. Low intelligence may lead to depress performance on
intellectual tasks and anxiety and also different chronic health conditions.

•People with higher intellectual abilities may understand how they can take care
of themselves and how they can improve their lifestyle as well their mental
health. signal superior neurological functioning or bodily integrity, or it may
correlate with social and behavioural factors that support health.
Psychometric intelligence and work

• An intelligence test score is also the best predictor of the number of

years of education an individual will receive, which is, in part, why
these scores also predict a person’s occupational status and income.

•Intelligence scores also do a reasonably good job of predicting a wide

variety of behaviors that most of us think of as ‘clever’.
•Research indicated intelligence can explain about 26% of job
performance differences between people in any job with medium
complexity.

•As well, study showed there is a strong correlation between the

average intelligence score of a nation and its overall economic status.
•Anyway, IQ is the single most important predictor of work success.