How Well Do You Know Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences?

Understanding Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences

• Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner proposed the theory of multiple intelligences in 1983.
• Gardner's theory suggests that traditional IQ testing is too limited and that people have different kinds of intelligence.
• Gardner proposed that there are eight intelligences: musical, interpersonal, spatial-visual, linguistic, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, intrapersonal, and naturalistic.
• Gardner has suggested the possible addition of a ninth intelligence known as "existentialist intelligence."
• Gardner's theory has been criticized for its broad definition of intelligence and lack of empirical research.
• Despite criticism, the theory of multiple intelligences is popular among educators.
• Multiple intelligences should not be conflated with learning styles, as evidence shows no benefits in terms of learning outcomes or educational attainment.
• People who are strong in visual-spatial intelligence are good at visualizing and working with maps, charts, videos, and pictures.
• Those with linguistic-verbal intelligence are good at using words when writing and speaking, reading, and memorizing information.
• Logical-mathematical intelligence is characterized by strong reasoning, pattern recognition, and analytical skills.
• Individuals with bodily-kinesthetic intelligence have excellent hand-eye coordination and physical control, and are skilled at body movement and performing actions.
• Naturalistic and existential intelligence are the most recent additions to Gardner's theory, with the former focusing on an individual's connection with nature and the latter on contemplation of life's big questions.

Theories of Personality in Psychology

• Personality theories attempt to explain how personality forms, changes, and impacts behavior.
• Personality is the characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make a person unique.
• There are five major theories of personality: biological, behavioral, psychodynamic, humanist, and trait.
• Biological theories suggest that genetics are responsible for personality and link personality traits to heritability.
• Behavioral theories suggest that personality is a result of interaction between the individual and the environment, and conditioning shapes personality.
• Psychodynamic theories emphasize the influence of the unconscious mind and childhood experiences on personality and include Freud's psychosexual stage theory and Erikson's stages of psychosocial development.
• Humanist theories emphasize the importance of free will and individual experience in the development of personality and promote the concept of self-actualization.
• Trait theories propose that personality is made up of a number of broad traits, and the Big 5 theory suggests that all personalities can be characterized by five major personality dimensions: openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
• Investigating theories of personality involves different techniques such as experimental methods, case studies, self-report methods, and clinical research.
• Classical conditioning is a behavioral training technique, and operant conditioning uses reinforcements or punishments to influence behavior.
• Freud's psychoanalytic theory of personality includes the unconscious mind, the id, the ego, and the superego.
• Famous psychologists who contributed to the field of personality include Sigmund Freud, B.F. Skinner, Carl Rogers, and Abraham Maslow.