Thinking & Intelligence

What is Intelligence?

Intelligence is defined as mental capacity to acquire knowledge, reason and solve problems effectively

The core of intelligence consists of general mental abilities in the areas of: reasoning, problem solving, knowledge, memory and successful adaptation to one’s surroundings.

Problem Solving

Problem Solving: The Basics

Identifying the Problem Consider all relevant possibilities before jumping to

conclusions Selecting a Strategy

Trial and error Algorithms: formulas that guarantee a correct

outcome if applied properly Heuristics: shortcuts or “rules of thumb” to solving

problems, results not guaranteed

Problem Solving

Unscramble the following words:

ensce dlsoc eltab

egtsa htmou sfelh

Problem Solving

Answers

scene colds table

gates/stage mouth flesh

Problem Solving

Connect all nine dots with four connecting straight lines without lifting the pencil from the paper.

Problem Solving

Obstacles to Problem Solving

Mental Set: tendency to respond to a new problem in the manner used for a previous problem

Functional Fixedness: inability to perceive a new use for an object associated with a different purpose

Ourselves

Obstacles to Problem Solving: Bias

Confirmation Bias: paying more attention to the events that confirm our beliefs and ignoring any contradictory evidence

Hindsight Bias: overestimating your ability to predict an event after it has happened “ I knew it all along”

Representativeness Bias: categorizing people or events

Obstacles to Problem Solving: Bias

Measuring Intelligence

Measuring Intelligence

Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon invented a school abilities test in 1904 that assessed whether or not students were able to handle age appropriate school work

The original School Abilities Test consisted of 30 questions. Examples of tasks include: Students are given three words and asked to use them

in a sentence Imitate gestures Explain the difference between objects Repeat sentences originally stated by the examiner Define abstract terms

Measuring Intelligence

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale (SB5): is an intelligence test made up of age ranked questions. These questions get harder at each level.

There are five cognitive factors on this test: Fluid Reasoning, Knowledge, Quantitative Reasoning, Visual-Spatial Processing, Working Memory

Intelligence Tests

Fluid Reasoning: tests one’s reasoning abilityi.e.: An apprentice is to a master as a novice is to a ________.

Knowledge: tests one’s knowledge on a range of topics i.e.: Why is yeast added to bread dough?

Intelligence Tests

Visual-Spatial Processing: ability to copy shapes and put together puzzles or tell directions.

Quantitative Reasoning: measure a person’s ability to solve problems involving numbers. i.e.: 5, 10, 15, 20, __

Intelligence Tests

Working Memory: measures the test taker’s ability to use short-term memory

i.e.: writing an essay or short passage on the spot

Intelligence Quotient

Intelligence Quotient (IQ): index of intelligence defined as a person’s mental age divided by his/her chronological age and multiplied by 100.

Mental Age: average mental ability people display at a given age

Chronological Age: a person’s age in years.

IQ

MA X 100 = IQ CA

(MA) 12 X 100 = 120(CA) 10

Problems with Deriving the IQ Score

Problem: by mid to late teenage years, gains in mental age scores tend to level off, as people begin to develop mentally in many different areas

This would make an adult whose mental age has remained the same since 15, takes the IQ test appear to be mentally retarded, which is not the case

IQ= M A = 15 X 100= 50 CA 30

IQ

Intelligence Theories Compared: Psychometrics

Pyschometrics: field of mental measurements

G factor: theorized by Charles Spearman as The underlying factor across all intellectual

domains Biologically innate, and it is at work behind all of

our mental activity

Fluid & Crystallized Intelligence (R. Cattel) Fluid: the ability to see complex relationships and

solve problems Crystallized: the knowledge a person has acquired

and the ability to access that knowledge (from semantic memory)

Intelligence Theories Compared: Cognitive

Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory: believed that to rely on an IQ score would limit us, as there are factors to our intelligence that are independent of one another

Practical Intelligence: ability to cope with the environment, “street smarts”

Analytical Intelligence: ability to analyze problems and find correct answers (this ability is measured by IQ tests)

Creative Intelligence: ability to see new relationships among concepts using insight and creativity

Intelligence Theories Compared: Cognitive

Multiple Intelligence: theory (by Howard Gardner) that suggests there are several specialized types of intellectual ability and their corresponding career paths.

Language (linguistic): writer, lawyer, comedian

Logic & Math (numeric): scientist, accountant, programmer

Intelligence Theories Compared: Cognitive

Visual & Spatial thinking (pictoral): engineer, inventor, artist

Music (musical): composer, musician, music critic

Bodily-kinesthetic (physical): dancer, athlete, surgeon

Intrapersonal (self-knowledge): poet, actor, minister

Multiple Intelligences

Interpersonal (social abilities): psychologist, teacher, politician

Naturalist (understanding of the natural environment): biologist, natural healer, organic farmer