Intelligence Background Key concepts

• What did Binet develop and believe about intelligence?

  Binet:

  • First to come up with intelligence
  • Asked to devise method in education for students who did not learn effectively from regular classrooms so they could get different work
  • Worked along Simon and developed Binet-Simon test in 1904 and this formed basis of modern IQ tests
• How is intelligence defined?

  Intelligence consists of:

  • Understanding complex ideas
  • Adapt to environment
  • Learn from experience

  Someone who uses these skills will plan ahead and use their memory
• Outline G factor

  Spearman:

  • Factor analysis studying rel. between cognitive factors & mental ability
  • General intelligence as Spearman said same underlying ability, G - reliable - do well on 1 do well on all
  • High G = reason in abstract ways & learn quickly
  • Also specific intelligence, S
  • Tests of S measure specific skills and abilities in specific areas
  • Ability to behave intelligently on cognitive task depends on combination of G + S
• What did Cattell believe about intelligence?

  Cattell:

  • G is not a single form of intelligence and has 2 main aspects:
  • Fluid intelligence - ability to reason in abstract ways without experience
  • Crystallised intelligence - ability to acquire knowledge through learning and experience e.g. understanding what reading to pass exam
  • Fluid intelligence declines with age while crystallised increases with age
• What did Caroll believe about intelligence?

  Caroll:

  • Further developed notion of intellgience

  3 Stratum model:

  • Overarched by G factor
  • Stratum I - 70 narrow abilities
  • Stratum II - gathered narrow abilities into several broad ability factors
• Outline multiple intelligence


  Gardner:

  • We all have abilities to greater or lesser degree and use them in different ways
  • 8 independent ailities:
  • Verbal linguistic - language
  • Logical mathematical - patterns
  • Bodily kinaesthetic - coordinate
  • Musical - tones
  • Visual spatial - mental image
  • Interpersonal - other’s intention
  • Intrapersonal - yourself
  • Naturalistic - natural world
  • Some intelligences valued more in Western cultures
  • To understand intelligence need to know profile - blend all 8
• Outline Triarchic theory of intelligence


  Sternberg:

  • Intelligence - mental capacity directed towards purposive adaptation to selection and shaping of real world environments relative to own life
  • Agreed with Gardner however viewed some intelligences as individual talents instead of intelligence
  • Successful intelligence:
  • Analytical intelligence - evaluate
  • Creative intelligence - ideas
  • Practical intelligence - adapt to changing environment
• Outline Emotional intelligence


  Mayer:

  • Ability to recognise meanings of emotions and reason and problem solving on basis of these things:
  • Self awareness - emotional
  • Self management - self control
  • Relationship management - teamwork, conflict management
• How do genes affect intelligence?

  McGue:

  Twin:

  • Reviewed reports of over 100 studies comparing concordance rates for different degrees of genetic relationship - 10000 pairs
  • MZ = 0.86
  • DZ = 0.6
  • 40 - 50% variation in IQ scores due to genetic influence, consensus favouring about 50%

  Adoption:

  • Review also showed IQ concordance rates for MZ raised apart 0.72, higher than DZ together 0.6
  • Despite being raised in different families MZ twins IQ more similar than DZ together
  • Significant role for inheritability in intelligence & smaller role for environmental factors
• How does brain size affect intelligence?

  • Head size used as a measure
  • Small correlation between head size and IQ of 0.15

  Rushton:

  • Correlation of 0.35 between brain size & IQ
  • Moderate link between brain size and intelligence as brain size is genetically influenced which is evidence of genes and intelligence
• How do brain areas affect intelligence?

  Haier:

  • Review of 37 brain scan studies
  • Intelligence may be correlated with volumes in the prefrontal cortex, Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area
  • Suggests research looking at specific brain areas might be more useful in understanding the biological basis for intelligence than overall correlation of brain size
• How do volumes of grey and white matter affect intelligence?

  Grey matter:

  • Density of cells in brain
  • Made up of neurone cell bodies that are important in processing

  White matter:

  • Axons important for communication in neurones
  • More grey and white matter = greater processing capacity and more efficient neuronal communication

  Luder:

  • Higher IQ correlated with higher amounts of grey and white matter in brain
• How does nutrition affect intelligence?

  Flynn:

  • First to identify link in nutrition and IQ
  • IQ increased in most countries since 1930s as improved diet
  • Consistent gain in IQ called Flynn effect

  Brody:

  • Claimed nutrition is biological as affects biological systems
  • Absence of certain nutrients associated with intellectual impairments

  Ming Qian:

  • Dietary deficiency of iodine linked with average decrease in IQ of 22 points in China