Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences - Term Paper Example

Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences In 1983 Howard Gardner proposed the theory of multiple intelligences to study and give a better description of the idea of intelligence. He suggests that the traditional description of intelligence in psychometrics by mistake proposes that the broad diversity of cognitive abilities that are measured by a series of IQ tests that are used to evaluate general intelligence factor are not correlated, even if correlated then very feebly. An example of such suggestion is that if a student is quick in learning multiplication or division then he is not normally more intelligent than the one who is weak at learning the same. The theory suggests that the student who is weak at these particular subjects may outstand in subjects other than mathematics or a different approach would best suit the student or he may be learning the subject at a deeper fundamental level, and this type of deeper fundamental understanding of the subject may look like slowness and hide the child’s mathematical intelligence which is potentially high when compared to the one who is a quick learner, despite the later is able to memorize the division process and multiplication tables without a deep understanding of the project. There have been mixed reactions to this theory. Experiments have revealed that there is high correlation between the two. Many scholars are in support of the suggestive approaches of the theory. Without claiming it to be the final list Gardner has made a list of eight basic types of intelligences. The actual list prepared by Gardner had seven different types of intelligences and later in the year 1999, he added a naturalist intelligence which makes it a list of eight. Moral and Existential intelligences were also taken into consideration by him, but due to lack of proof to support these types of intelligences based upon his criteria of articulation, that include, the brains presence of core operations, its place in history of evolution, its potential for isolation due to damage, a different development progression, susceptibility to encoding, existence of idiot-servants, evidence from psychometric study and psychological experiments, prodigies and othe exceptional cases. Presently the theory’s eight accepted types of intelligences are musical, intrapersonal, naturalistic, interpersonal, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, logical-mathematical and linguistic. The areas like ability to visualize with the eye of one’s mind and spatial judgment are deal by spatial intelligence. Architects, artists and designer according to the theory are examples of people with such intelligence. Studies also suggest that people with this type of intelligence are very good with puzzles. The linguistic intelligence area deals with people with high intelligence in the fields of words, written or spoken, people who have a high intelligence of verbal linguistics show a potentially high capability with languages and words. Such people are relatively good with memorizing dates, words, telling stories, reading and writing when compared to others. In such cases people who possess linguistic intelligence learn better by listening lectures, reading, by debates and discussions and by taking notes. Foreign languages are easily learned and remembered by people with verbal linguistic intelligence, they are very good in understanding and manipulating structure and grammar. They also possess a very high verbal memory and are able to recollect very fast. Logical – mathematical intelligence, this area deals with numbers, abstractions, reasoning and logic. Though it is often said that people with such intelligence are good at games like chess, subjects like computer programming, mathematics and other numeric and logical activities, the theory emphasizes that this type of intelligence has to do with various abilities like, performing calculations that are complex, investigations and scientific thinking, recognition of abstract patterns and reasoning abilities. The theory strongly suggests that logical-mathematical intelligence is strongly correlated with the traditional concepts of IQ. Another one of Gardeners intelligence is Bodily Kinesthetic. The capability of a person to handle objects cleverly and the control of a persons bodily motions are the primary features of this form of intelligence. Furthermore, Gardener mentions that this form of intelligence also includes a clear understanding of the aim of the physical action, an idea of timing, and the capability of a person to train responses in a way that they act like reflexes. Theoretically, people with good bodily kinesthetic intelligence are usually good at physical activities like dance and sports. These people should absorb better by using muscular movements, for example, moving around and getting into the experience of learning. These people are generally good at making and constructing things and the usually enjoy acting or performing. For them the best form of learning is by physical activities instead of hearing or reading about things. People with a solid bodily-kinesthetic intelligence generally use what is called as muscle memory, they tend to remember things with their body like verbal memory. The kinds of careers that fit this stream of intelligence include pilots, athletes, musicians, dancers, soldiers, doctors, surgeons, police officers, and builders. Though viral stimulation might duplicate these forms of careers, they do not generate the concrete physical learning that is required for this intelligence. According to Gardener, intelligence also takes a musical form. Musical intelligence deals with an understanding of tones, sounds, rhythms, and music. People who have a high intelligence in this field generally have a good pitch, they sometimes also have an absolute pitch. They are good at singing, composing music, and playing musical instruments. People who are strongest in this type of intelligence tend to learn through lectures as this kind of intelligence has a major auditory component to this kind of intelligence. People with high musical intelligence usually have very good language skills. Sometimes these people use songs or rhythms to learn. They are sensitive to pitch, tone, meter, rhythm, timbre, and melody. Careers like singers, instrumentalists, conductors, orators, writers, composers, and disc jockeys suit people with musical intelligence. Interpersonal is another area of intelligence, this form of intelligence deals with interaction with other people. Interpersonal intelligence is generally seen in extroverts. These people are characterized by their compassion to the feelings, motivations, moods, temperatures, and their capability to be cooperative when working as part of a group. People in this group are very effective with communication and are usually very empathetic with others, they might end up being followers or leaders. The usually learn best in the company of others. They also enjoy debates and discussions. Politics, sales, teaching, managing, and social work are careers that suit people with interpersonal intelligence. The next area is intrapersonal intelligence. This area of intelligence deals with self –reflective and introspective capabilities. These people are usually introverts and very intuitive. Their skills include being able to decipher motivations and feelings. This comes along with having a strong understanding of ones self, understanding what ones weaknesses and strengths are, predicting ones own emotions and reactions, understanding what one unique. People who are theologians, psychologists, philosophers, writers, and lawyers generally fit into this kind of intelligence. People in this category also prefer working alone. Another area that Howard Gardener brought out is the naturalistic intelligence. This area focuses on nurturing surroundings and relating a person’s information to the natural surrounding. Finally, the last form of intelligence listed out by Gardener was existential. Some protagonists of the multiple intelligence theory suggested religious or spiritual intelligence as a possible type of intelligence. However, Gardener did not want to include this as a part of his theory, but he suggested that it may benefit to include an ‘existential’ form of intelligence. Other educational researchers have further investigated this theory of existential intelligence. Existential intelligence suits people who are priests, shamans, physicists, mathematicians, philosophers, and cosmologists. “When Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences found its way into the conversations of elementary and high school teachers, many expressed optimism. The concept of multiple intelligences offered a framework for developing new and more creative ways of tapping into students’ potential” (Kincheloe 31). Reference List Kincheloe, Joe L. Multiple Intelligences Reconsidered. Peter Lang: USA. 2004. Print. Read More