Module 60 REVIEW

• 60-1 How do psychologists define intelligence, and what are the arguments for g?

• Intelligence is a mental quality consisting of the ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations.
• Charles Spearman proposed that we have one general intelligence (g). Through his work with factor analysis, a statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related mental abilities, he noted that those who score high in one area typically score higher than average in other areas.
• L. L. Thurstone disagreed and identified seven different clusters of mental abilities. Yet a tendency remained for high scorers in one cluster to score high in other clusters, providing further evidence of a g factor.

• 60-2 How do Gardner’s and Sternberg’s theories of multiple intelligences differ, and what criticisms have they faced?

• Howard Gardner proposed eight independent intelligences (linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, intrapersonal, interpersonal, and naturalist), as well as a possible ninth (existential intelligence). The different intelligences of people with savant syndrome, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and certain kinds of brain damage seem to support his view.
• Robert Sternberg’s triarchic theory proposes three intelligence areas that predict real-world skills: analytical (academic problem solving), creative, and practical.
• Critics note that while high intelligence may open doors, success in school, at work, or at a sport or hobby is a combination of talent and grit.

• 60-3 What are the four components of emotional intelligence?

• Emotional intelligence, which is an aspect of social intelligence, is the ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions.
• Emotionally intelligent people tend to be happy, healthy, and more successful in their personal and professional lives.
• Some critics question whether calling these abilities “intelligence” stretches that concept too far.

Multiple-Choice Questions

1. An intelligence test that asks a person how many uses they can think of for a golf ball is most likely testing a person’s _____ intelligence.
   1. linguistic
   2. practical
   3. creative
   4. spatial
   5. analytical
2. According to Charles Spearman and others, _____ underlies specific mental abilities and is measured by every task on an intelligence test.
   1. savant syndrome
   2. general intelligence (g)
   3. factor analysis
   4. intelligence
   5. emotional intelligence
3. Victor is blind, unable to speak, and understands very few words. He is, however, able to hear a piece of music once and play it back flawlessly on the piano. Victor’s abilities best represent someone with
   1. analytical intelligence.
   2. a high g factor.
   3. savant syndrome.
   4. emotional intelligence.
   5. intrapersonal intelligence.
4. Which of the following is not a component of emotional intelligence?
   1. Understanding emotions
   2. Perceiving emotions
   3. Using emotions
   4. Managing emotions
   5. Inventing emotions

Practice FRQs

1. Give a summary, a strength, and a weakness of Charles Spearman’s idea of general intelligence.

Answer

1 point: Spearman suggested we have a general intelligence—an underlying mental ability—that predicts performance for all intelligent behavior. Page 626

1 point: Strength: Different abilities, such as verbal and spatial, do tend to correlate. Page 626

1 point: Weakness: Human abilities are too diverse to be explained by a single general intelligence factor. Page 627

2. Mark and Bill are planning to open a piano-moving business and are hoping for great success. Explain how each element of Sternberg’s intelligence theory could help them be successful in their business.

(3 points)