Intelligence Meaning and Types

Intelligence Meaning and Types

Intelligence Meaning and Types: Intelligence is one of the most significant single criteria that influences education. The capacity to acquire and utilise information is referred to as intelligence. Success in school, universities, and one’s own vocation, as well as social adaptability and general knowledge, are all linked to the idea of “intelligent.” The term intelligence comes from the Latin verb ‘intellegere,’ which meaning ‘to comprehend.’

Intelligence, according to Alfred Binet, is the capacity to make decisions or use common sense. “One’s aptitude to react successfully with circumstances,” according to Thorndike. ‘Intelligence is the capacity to adapt to one’s circumstances,’ according to Jean Piaget. “Intelligence is the ability for flexible adjustment,” says Cyril Burt.

‘The worldwide ability to think logically, behave meaningfully, and interact successfully with the environment,’ according to David Wechsler (1977).

The capacity to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, absorb complicated concepts, learn rapidly, and learn from experience is characterised as intelligence. It’s not only book knowledge, a certain academic talent, or test-taking prowess.

In layman’s terms, intelligence is defined as the capacity to think critically and adapt to and learn from life’s events.

Intelligence Meaning and Types

Intelligence’s Nature and Characteristics

Intelligence does not come through many hours of hard work. It’s a gift from the universe. Memory is not intelligence. A smart individual may have a weak memory. Intelligence is not a talent that a worker learns through deliberate effort. Individual intelligence is not a guarantee of good behaviour.

To comprehend the nature of intelligence, we must first comprehend E.L. Thorndike and Garret’s categorization of intelligence:

Intelligence that is concrete

It is a person’s capacity to perceive and respond appropriately to real-life events. The tangible intelligence may be seen in a variety of everyday tasks. When a person is managing tangible items or drugs, this form of intelligence comes in handy. This intellect is found in engineers, mechanics, and architects.

Intelligence in the abstract

It is the capacity to react to words, numbers, and symbols in a meaningful way. Ordinary academic disciplines in school need abstract intelligence. This is the result of a thorough study of books and literature. This intelligence is found in good teachers, attorneys, physicians, philosophers, and other professionals.

Social Intelligence 

It refers to a person’s capacity to respond to social events in everyday life. The indicator of social intelligence is adequate adaptability in social contexts. People with this intellect are skilled at making friends and persuading others. It’s in the hands of leaders, ministers, diplomatic sources, and social workers.

As a result, we define intelligence as the ability to adapt to a changing environment, the ability to perceive relationships between various objects and methods, the ability to solve problems, the ability to think independently, the ability to learn as much as possible in the shortest amount of time, and the ability to benefit from one’s own and others’ experiences.

As a result, intelligence is an inborn capacity of a person, and intelligence is not distributed equally among all humans. When it comes to intellect, there is a great deal of variation amongst people.

Intelligence Characteristics

The following are the key characteristics of intelligence:

• Intelligence is a child’s fundamental natural attribute.
• It enables the youngster to learn as much as possible in the shortest amount of time.
• The youngster can look into the future and make plans appropriately.
• The youngster may use his prior experiences to his advantage.
• With cooperation, the youngster confronts the future.
• He acquires the ability to distinguish between good and wrong.
• The era of intellect development is from infancy until puberty.
• There is a tiny variation in how males and girls develop their IQ.
• Individual disparities exist between males and girls in terms of IQ.
• Intelligence is mostly dictated by genes, but it may be improved with the right environment.

Intelligence Types

• Intelligence of the Naturalist

Naturalist intelligence refers to a person’s capacity to distinguish between living things (plants and animals) as well as sensitivity to other aspects of the environment (clouds, rock configurations). This talent was undoubtedly valuable in our evolutionary history as hunters, gatherers, and farmers, and it is still important in jobs like botany and cooking. It’s also possible that much of our consumer culture leverages naturalist intelligences, which can be used to discriminate between vehicles, footwear, and different types of cosmetics, among other things.

• Intelligence in Music

The ability to recognise pitch, rhythm, timbre, and tone is known as musical intelligence. Composers, conductors, musicians, vocalists, and sensitive listeners have all proved that this intelligence allows us to perceive, create, reproduce, and reflect on music. Interestingly, music and emotions typically have an emotional relationship, and mathematics and musical intelligences may have comparable thinking processes. The majority of young people with this level of intellect sing or drum to themselves. They are frequently acutely sensitive of noises that others may overlook.

• Intelligence logical-mathematical

The capacity to compute, measure, examine propositions and hypotheses, and perform comprehensive mathematical operations is referred to as logical-mathematical intelligence. It allows us to recognise correlations and connections while also allowing us to employ abstract, symbolic cognition, sequential reasoning abilities, and inductive and deductive thinking processes. Mathematicians, physicists, and detectives all have high levels of logical intelligence. Patterns, categories, and connections pique the curiosity of young people with high logical intelligence. Arithmetic difficulties, strategic games, and experiments pique their interest.

• Existential Intelligence is a term that refers to the ability to think

Sensitivity and the ability to grapple with big concerns about life, such as what it means to live, why we die, and how we got here.

• Intelligence in Relationships

The capacity to comprehend and communicate successfully with people is referred to as interpersonal intelligence. Effective verbal and nonverbal communication, the capacity to recognise differences in others, sensitivity to others’ emotions and temperaments, and the ability to entertain diverse viewpoints are all part of it. Interpersonal intelligence is shown by teachers, social workers, performers, and politicians. Young people with this level of intellect are leaders among their peers, have excellent communication skills, and seem to comprehend the sentiments and motivations of others.

• Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence is a kind of intelligence that is based on the sense of touch.

The ability to control items and apply a range of physical talents is referred to as bodily kinesthetic intelligence. This intelligence also includes a sense of time as well as the mastery of abilities achieved via mind–body integration. Athletes, dancers, surgeons, and others who work with their hands have highly developed physical kinesthetic intelligence.

• Linguistic Intelligence is a term used to describe a person’s ability

Linguistic intelligence is the capacity to think in words and to communicate and comprehend complex thoughts via language. Linguistic intelligence enables us to comprehend the sequence and meaning of words, as well as to employ metalinguistic abilities to reflect on our language usage. Linguistic intelligence is the most generally shared human skill, and it may be found in poets, novelists, journalists, and persuasive public speakers. This kind of intellect enjoys writing, reading, telling tales, and doing crossword puzzles.

• Intrapersonal Intelligence

Intra-personal intelligence is the ability to comprehend oneself and one’s ideas and emotions, as well as the ability to apply that knowledge to plan and guide one’s life. Intra-personal intelligence entails an understanding of both the self and the human predicament. Psychologists, spiritual leaders, and philosophers are all examples. These young adults might be reserved. They are self-motivated and conscious of their own sentiments.

• Intelligence in Space

The capacity to think in three dimensions is known as spatial intelligence. Mental imaging, spatial thinking, picture manipulation, graphic and creative talents, and an active imagination are all core abilities. Space intelligence is shown by sailors, pilots, sculptors, artists, and architects. Young people with this level of intellect could like mazes or jigsaw puzzles, or spend their leisure time sketching or daydreaming.