As the rigid school system is comprised of written tests, essay assignments and various constant evaluations, we have come to think of “intelligence” in a very limited way: defined as a single letter grade. This is an unfortunate reality and does not reflect the many different types of intelligence that exist.
In 1983, developmental psychologist, Howard Gardner revolutionized the concept of multiple types of intelligence when he published his book The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. For Gardner, intelligence is not limited to one’s score on a standardized test, but also includes an array of skills and abilities, including, among others, logical-mathematical, intrapersonal, interpersonal, moral and naturalistic abilities. He believes that each person has a “unique blend” of all these abilities. He then analyzes in detail nine different types of intelligence.
1) The first type of intelligence that Gardner identifies is “Naturalistic Intelligence.” Naturalistic intelligence is a unique sensitivity to the “natural world”. This includes the ability to understand meteorology, geology, botany and zoology. This is clearly an evolutionary type of intelligence that was very necessary when hunting and agriculture was part of everyday life. Now, people who posses “naturalistic intelligence” often becomes chefs, botanist, weather forecasters etc.
2) “Musical Intelligence” is the ability to recognize various aspects of music that others cannot. People who are “musically intelligent” are sensitive to tone, rhythm, timbre and pitch. These people are able to hear a piece of music once and then reproduce it almost exactly. These people will often drum, beatbox and sing as they have a unique musical inclination. They are sensitive to sounds that others don’t hear.
3) “Logical-Mathematical Intelligence” is the ability to “calculate, quantify, consider propositions and hypotheses, and carry out complete mathematical operations”. People who are skilled in mathematics and logical reasoning are very astute inductive and deductive thinkers and often think in terms of patterns and relationships. They enjoy games like “Risk” and “Settlers of Catan”, games which require the use of strategy.
4) “Existential Intelligence” is often possessed by sensitive and deep thinkers. People with existential intelligence go through life by asking deep and philosophical questions about life, death, meaning etc. They are curious individuals who are not scared to tackle difficult questions.
5) People who have “Interpersonal Intelligence” are those people most commonly called “people-people”. They have fantastic social skills and get along well with others. They can read other people’s moods and temperaments. They are great communicators. People who posses interpersonal intelligence often go into fields like education, political science, social work and acting.
6) “Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence” is the “ability manipulate objects and use a variety of physical skills”. People who are especially proficient in this intelligence are often graceful, poised and coordinated. Specifically, people who posses this intelligence have almost perfect “mind body coordination”. Generally those individuals with “Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence” will become dancers, athletes, surgeons and craftspeople.
7) The seventh type of intelligence is called “Linguistic Intelligence”. This is the ability to “to think in words and use these to make oneself understood”. We all know people who are like this, the master boggle players, the English majors, the best note takers. They are very language proficient and articulate. Poets, novelists, journalists and effective public speakers are endowed with this type of intelligence.
8) “Intrapersonal Intelligence” is the capacity to understand oneself and one’s innermost thoughts and feelings. Those people are good are goal oriented and very self aware. They are able to pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses as well as others’. They are experts in “the human condition” and often become spiritual leaders, psychologists and philosophers.
9) The last type of intelligence is “Spatial Intelligence”. This type of intelligence is defined as “the human capacity to consider things in three dimensions”. Imaginative, creative and artsy people are people who possess “spatial intelligence”. Careers that “spatially intelligent” people go into include flying, sculpting, painting, architecture and sailing.
Although modern cognitive neuroscience does not necessarily corroborate Gardner’s theory, his sentiment that the bounds of human intelligence are not limited to grades and test scores is undeniable. This is an awareness that we should all keep in mind as we approach the upcoming finals season.