Intelligence

What makes us smart?Or not so smart?

Intelligence is maybe…

The ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt

to new situations.

Theories of Intelligence• Not one true

definition…why?• Fluid versus

Crystallized Intelligence

• 4 main theoretical concepts of intelligence….

Is intelligence one thing or several different abilities?

• To find out scientists use FACTOR ANALYSIS:A statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items on a test.

• Charles Spearman used FA to discovery his g or (general intelligence) and s factor (mathematical).

He saw using FA that doing well in one area of a test predicted that you will do well in another

Howard Gardner and Multiple Intelligences

• Gardner believed that there exists at least 7 different types of intelligences (not one single “G factor”.

1. Linguistic2. Logical-mathematical3. Spatial4. Musical5. Body-kinesthetic6. Intrapersonal7. Interpersonal8. Naturalist

Which ones are most valued in schools?

Howard GARDNER

“Multiple Intelligences” - continued

The existence of savants, prodigies and other exceptional individuals supports Gardner’s theory:

Rain Man on Netflix: 37:50 -39:50 and 42:00

Robert Sternberg and his Triarchic Theory

• Most commonly accepted theory today.

• Three types of intelligence

1.Analytical2.Creative3.Practical

Goleman and his EQ• Emotional

Intelligence• Interpersonal and

intrapersonal intelligences.

• Maybe EQ is a better predictor for future success than IQ.

Brain Size and IntelligenceIs there a link?

• Small +.15 correlation between head size and intelligence scores (relative to body size).

• Using an MRI we found +.44 correlation with brain size and IQ score.

Brain Function and Intelligence• Higher performing

brains are less active than lower performing brains (use less glucose).

• Neurological speed is also a bit quicker.

How do we Assess Intelligence?

• Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon set out to figure out a concept called a mental age (what a person of a particular age should know).

• They discovered that by discovering someone’s mental age they can predict future performance.

• Hoped they could use test to help children, not label them.

Terman and his IQ Test• Used Binet’s

research to construct the modern day IQ test called the Stanford-Binet Test.

• IQ=Mental age/Chronological age X 100.

• A 8 year old has a mental age of 10, what is her IQ?

• A 12 year old has the mental age of 9, what is his IQ?

• A boy has the mental age of 10 and an IQ of 200, how old is he?

Problems with the IQ Formula

• It does not really work well on adults, why?

then his IQ would be 50!!!!!!

If a 60 year old man

does as well as an average 35 year old

That makes no sense!!!!!

Wechsler Tests• More common way

to give IQ tests….does not use the formula but uses the same scoring system.

• WAIS• WISC• WPPSI

Normal Distribution

The Flynn Effect

How do we construct an Intelligence Test?

• Standardized: the questions have been piloted on similar populations and the scores fall on a normal distribution.

• Reliable: Do you get similar results every time the test is administered?

• Validity: Does the test measure what it is supposed to?

ValidityThe extent to which a test measures

what it is supposed to measure.• Content Validity: is it measuring

what it is supposed to be measuring?

• Predictive Validity: does the test predict future behavior?

Does the SAT predict performance in college?

Types of Tests

Aptitude• Measure ability or

potential.

Achievement• Tests that measure

what you have learned.

Does Intelligence Change Over Time?

By age 3, a child’s IQ can predict adolescent IQ scores.Depends on the type of intelligence, crystallized or fluid.

Extremes of Intelligence• Akrit Jaswal

Low Extreme of Intelligence• Mental Retardation: condition

of limited mental ability, indicated by an intelligence score of below 70 and difficulty adapting to the demands of life.

Degrees of Mental Retardation Degrees of Mental Retardation

Level Typical Intelligence Scores Percentage of the Retarded Adaptation to Demands of Life

Mild 50-70 85% Most learn academic skills up to sixth-grade level. Adults may, with assistance, achieve self-supporting social and vocational skills.

Moderate 35-49 10 May progress to second-grade level. academically. Adults may contribute to their own support by labor in sheltered workshops.

Severe 20-34 3-4 May learn to talk and perform simple work tasks under close supervision but are generally unable to profit from vocational training.

Is Intelligence Genetic or Environmental?

• Influenced by both, but the most genetically similar have the most similar scores.

Similarity ofintelligence

scores(correlation)

Identicaltwinsreared together

Identicaltwinsreared apart

Fraternaltwinsreared together

Siblingsreared together

Unrelatedindividualsreared together

Genetic Influences• With age, genetic influences become

more apparent.• Adopted children’s intelligence scores

become more like their biological parents, and identical twins similarities continue to increase as they age.

• Still hard to tell what percentage of intelligence comes from genes to account for differences between people (heritability).

Genetic Influences

0.35

0.30

0.25

0.20

0.15

0.10

0.05

0.003 years 16 years

Child-parentcorrelation inverbal ability

scores

Children and theirbirth parents

Adopted childrenand their birthparents

Adopted childrenand their adoptiveparents

Group Differences in Intelligence Scores Are Probably Mostly Attributed

to the Environment

Variation within group

Variation within group

Difference within group

Poor soil Fertile soil

Seeds