Copyright: High Capacity Communications - Dr. Arini Verwer, 2017 Site Map Disclaimer Terms of Usage Privacy Policy Webmaster
If you are smart you are either good at math or at languages ?….
That is what school beat into us by putting certain types of
intelligence on a pedestal and ignoring other types. If you are not good
at math or language, you might still be gifted at other things but it
was not called 'intelligence'. Why?
In 1983 an American developmental
psychologist Howard Gardener described 9 types of intelligence [1]:
· Naturalist (nature smart)
· Musical (sound smart)
· Logical-mathematical (number/reasoning smart)
· Existential (life or heart smart)
· Interpersonal (people smart)
· Bodily-kinesthetic (body smart)
· Linguistic (word smart)
· Intra-personal (self smart)
· Spatial (picture smart)
What other scientists thought were just
soft-skills, such as interpersonal skills, Gardener realized were types
of intelligence. It makes sense. Just as being a math whiz gives you the
ability to understand the world, so does being “people smart” give you
the same ability, just from a different perspective. Not knowing math
you may not calculate the rate at which the universe is expanding, but
you are likely to have the skills to find the right person who will.
Each of us has the ability to excel in
different types of intelligences or smarts we are naturally endowed with
some of the intelligences but not usually all of them. 'Excel-Kids' program uses a child’s natural smarts as a way of
becoming engaged with an area of interest, to strengthen other areas of
intelligence. For example, a child might be interested in animals
(nature smarts) but not interested in numbers, however we can use the
nature smarts to become engaged in learning number smarts. This is
referred to as the emergent curriculum. When we see that a child is
curious about an area of learning this can serve as a basis to expanding
their capacity.
The 9 Types of Intelligence
Here is an overview of the multiple
intelligences theory, summarized by ASCD [2]:
1. Naturalist Intelligence (Nature
Smart)
Naturalist intelligence designates the
human ability to discriminate among living things (plants, animals) as
well as sensitivity to other features of the natural world (clouds, rock
configurations). This ability was clearly of value in our evolutionary
past as hunters, gatherers, and farmers; it continues to be central in
such roles as botanist or chef. It is also speculated that much of our
consumer society exploits the naturalist intelligences, which can be
mobilized in the discrimination among cars, sneakers, kinds of makeup,
and the like.
2. Musical Intelligence (Sound
Smart)
Musical intelligence is the capacity to
discern pitch, rhythm, timbre, and tone. This intelligence enables us to
recognize, create, reproduce, and reflect on music, as demonstrated by
composers, conductors, musicians, vocalist, and sensitive listeners.
Interestingly, there is often an affective connection between music and
the emotions; and mathematical and musical intelligences may share
common thinking processes. Young adults with this kind of intelligence
are usually singing or drumming to themselves. They are usually quite
aware of sounds others may miss.
3. Logical-Mathematical
Intelligence (number/reasoning smart)
Logical-mathematical intelligence is the
ability to calculate, quantify, consider propositions and hypotheses,
and carry out complete mathematical operations. It enables us to
perceive relationships and connections and to use abstract, symbolic
thought; sequential reasoning skills; and inductive and deductive
thinking patterns. Logical intelligence is usually well developed in
mathematicians, scientists, and detectives. Young adults with lots of
logical intelligence are interested in patterns, categories, and
relationships. They are drawn to arithmetic problems, strategy games and
experiments.
4. Existential Intelligence
(Life/Heart Smart)
Sensitivity and capacity to tackle deep
questions about human existence, such as the meaning of life, why we
die, and how did we get here.
5. Interpersonal Intelligence
(People Smart)
Interpersonal intelligence is the ability
to understand and interact effectively with others. It involves
effective verbal and nonverbal communication, the ability to note
distinctions among others, sensitivity to the moods and temperaments of
others, and the ability to entertain multiple perspectives. Teachers,
social workers, actors, and politicians all exhibit interpersonal
intelligence. Young adults with this kind of intelligence are leaders
among their peers, are good at communicating, and seem to understand
others’ feelings and motives.
6. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
(Body Smart)
Bodily kinesthetic intelligence is the
capacity to manipulate objects and use a variety of physical skills.
This intelligence also involves a sense of timing and the perfection of
skills through mind–body union. Athletes, dancers, surgeons, and crafts
people exhibit well-developed bodily kinesthetic intelligence.
7. Linguistic Intelligence (Word
Smart)
Linguistic intelligence is the ability to
think in words and to use language to express and appreciate complex
meanings. Linguistic intelligence allows us to understand the order and
meaning of words and to apply meta-linguistic skills to reflect on our
use of language. Linguistic intelligence is the most widely shared human
competence and is evident in poets, novelists, journalists, and
effective public speakers. Young adults with this kind of intelligence
enjoy writing, reading, telling stories or doing crossword puzzles.
8. Intra-personal Intelligence (Self
Smart)
Intra-personal intelligence is the
capacity to understand oneself and one’s thoughts and feelings, and to
use such knowledge in planning and directioning one’s life.
Intra-personal intelligence involves not only an appreciation of the
self, but also of the human condition. It is evident in psychologist,
spiritual leaders, and philosophers. These young adults may be shy. They
are very aware of their own feelings and are self-motivated.
9. Spatial Intelligence (Picture
Smart)
Spatial intelligence is the ability to
think in three dimensions. Core capacities include mental imagery,
spatial reasoning, image manipulation, graphic and artistic skills, and
an active imagination. Sailors, pilots, sculptors, painters, and
architects all exhibit spatial intelligence. Young adults with this kind
of intelligence may be fascinated with mazes or jigsaw puzzles, or spend
free time drawing or daydreaming.
Notes
1. ^ Howard Gardner’s official website contains links to scientific papers.
2. ^ Armstrong, Thomas. Multiple
Intelligences in the Classroom, 3rd ed. Alexandria, VA: Association for
Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2009