Gardner's Intelligences - Assignment Example

Gardner’s Theory of Intelligence For a long period of time, intelligence was measured on cognitive ability, specifically dealing with mathematical reasoning and reading ability. This is still often the main criteria which many colleges look at for admission. However, is it fair to judge based just on these skills? Does this not mean that someone who creates a portrait is not smart? According to Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligence, intelligence is not simply measured on two specific levels, but on seven broad levels.

The best way to depict Gardner’s Theory of Intelligence is as a wheel rather than in a linear manner. His theory of intelligence is broken up into the following categories: spatial, linguistic, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalistic, and existential. Spatial ability involves being able to visualize images such as puzzles using the mind. Linguistic intelligence is the intelligence of language. Everything dealing with words, reading, writing, etc.

comes naturally to people with high linguistic intelligence. Logical-mathematical intelligence deals with mathematical computational abilities. Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence can be compared as being similar to athletic ability. People with good body-kinesthetic intelligence usually have good coordination as well as good reflexes. Musical intelligence coordinates to musical ability such as singing, recognizing tones, playing an instrument, etc. Interpersonal intelligence talks about the ability of people to relate with one another and intrapersonal intelligence relates to the self-reflective behavior that we have within ourselves.

Lastly, existential intelligence can be related to spirituality. Since there are so many aspects of intelligence, some of these are interconnected and it is possible to be intelligent in multiple areas. This theory also explains how people who are considered to have lower IQ scores could be gifted in other areas. Therefore, I think that Gardner’s assessment of intelligence is more complete than the traditional view on intelligence in that it helps explain the giftedness and being savant in certain areas.

The G factor is a psychometric definition for general intelligence. The G factor is a reflection of a person’s cognitive abilities. Again, this focuses on the traditional cognitive abilities and is tested often using cognitive tests such as spatial and mathematical reasoning. However, with the G factor, the statistical analysis and correlations are proven much more easily by the numbers whereas Gardner’s theory is an intelligence theory that is abstract and explained generally in the population.

Because Gardner’s theory is more parsimonious than the G factor, I would say it is more applicable and is better represented in the population.