HOW ARE YOU INTELLIGENT?

HOW ARE YOU INTELLIGENT?  Note the word order in the question.  We have come a long way in our thinking about intelligence.

Intelligence is not fixed at birth.  It can be enhanced by every person.  The process of improving intelligence can be taught.  Currently, the best-known thinker about multiple intelligence (often referred to as MI) is Professor Howard Gardner of Harvard.  He seriously expanded the world's thinking and claims that all humans have eight types of intelligence.

For parents and teachers, it is vital that these intelligences are not viewed as things to be seen or counted.  They are potentials.  They will be activated depending on values, opportunities, personal and family decisions, teachers and others.

Even MENSA MAGAZINE is attracted to the idea of Multiple Intelligence.  The cover of the March 2000 edition carried a photograph of David Beckham with the teasing question "Is Beckham brighter than Einstein?".  Did you know that Isaac Newton and Ernest Shackleton did not do well at school?  Winston Churchill failed Sixth Grade and George Washington could hardly write.  Charles Darwin was considered by his teachers as "below the common standard in intellect" and Thomas Edison's teachers said he was "too stupid to learn anything".  And as for Einstein - his teachers described him as "mentally slow".

Unfortunately through much of the western culture there remains a common view that we are all born with a fixed amount of intelligence.  That it is a personal characteristic like large feet, brown eyes, long or short legs.  Intelligence shows itself in certain types of activity, especially in maths and literacy.  It is possible to measure our intelligence by testing, the outcome of which is a number grade.  This is of course highly questionable and ironically Alfred Binet, one of the creators of the IQ test, intended the test to exclusively identify children with special needs.

The list below shows these eight types of intelligence, and provides some insights into what they might mean.  Remember we all have all eight of them to varying degrees.

Linguistic Intelligence:  think in words - like to read and write - like stories - like to play word games - have a good memory for names, places, dates, poetry, lyrics and trivia - find spelling easy - have a well developed vocabulary.

Logical and Mathematical Intelligence:  see patterns easily - like abstract ideas - like strategy games and logical puzzles - work out sums easily in your head - use computers - think in categories and see relationships between ideas.

Spatial Intelligence:  think in images and pictures - easily remember where things have been put - like drawing, designing, building, daydreaming - read maps and diagrams easily - do jigsaw puzzles easily - are fascinated by machines - reproduce images accurately.

Musical Intelligence: often sing, hum or whistle to yourself - remember melodies - have a good sense of rhythm - play an instrument - are sensitive to sounds in the environment - need music on when studying.

Bodily/kinaesthetic Intelligence:  remember through bodily sensations - find it difficult to sit still for long - are good at sports, dancing, acting or mime - have excellent coordination - communicate well through gestures - learn best through physical activity, simulation and role play - mimic people easily.

Interpersonal Intelligence:  understand people well - learn best by interacting and cooperating with others - are good at leading and organising - pick up on other people's feelings - mediate between people - enjoy playing social games - listen well to other people.

Intrapersonal Intelligence:  like to work alone - motivate yourself - are intuitive - have a sense of independence - are strong-willed and have strong personal opinions - set your own goals - are self-confident - are reflective - are aware of  your personal strengths and weaknesses.

Naturalistic Intelligence:  Recognise flora and fauna - make distinctions and notice patterns in the natural world - use common and distinguishing features to categorise and group phenomena - use criteria consistently - use this ability productively, eg farming, pet keeping, conservation.

I have recently been reading Ken Robinson's excellent and entertaining book "THE ELEMENT - how finding your passion changes everything" (2009.  Allen Lane Publisher), which spurred me to revisit the thinking on intelligence.  If you wish to read more, see Howard Gardner (1999) Intelligence Reframed.  Basic Books. 

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