Psychology of Intelligence

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is a key aspect of the multifaceted nature of intelligence?

It can be expressed in many different domains (correct)

It is only used for social intelligence

It is only used for problem-solving abilities

It is only related to academic performance

What is the primary focus of functional intelligence?

Cultural knowledge

Accomplishing tasks and solving problems (correct)

Academic achievement

Social skills

According to Sternberg (2004), what is a key aspect of successful intelligence?

Shaping environments

Adapting to environments

Changing environments

Selecting and adapting to environments to achieve various goals (correct)

From an evolutionary perspective, what is the primary function of intelligent behaviour?

To facilitate survival and reproduction Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the cognitive perspective on intelligence?

The use of cognition skills to solve problems Signup and view all the answers

What role does culture play in shaping intelligence?

It shapes and defines intelligence to some extent Signup and view all the answers

What is a common challenge in measuring intelligence?

It is not straightforward Signup and view all the answers

What are psychometric instruments used for?

To measure intelligence and other psychological qualities Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of psychometric approach in measuring intelligence?

To compare individuals with each other on psychological scales Signup and view all the answers

What is the clinician's role in intelligence testing?

To administer and interpret the results of the test Signup and view all the answers

Who is credited with the first systematic effort to measure intelligence?

Sir Francis Galton Signup and view all the answers

What did Galton believe was the building block of intelligence?

Simple perceptual, sensory and motor abilities Signup and view all the answers

What was the main goal of Galton's laboratory at the 1884 international exposition?

To test his theory on the relationship between simple measures of intelligence Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of Galton's correlation procedure to examine the relation between simple measures of intelligence?

It did not correlate with social class or anything else Signup and view all the answers

What was Galton's theory on intelligence and social pre-eminence?

They are the products of evolutionary processes of 'survival of the fittest' Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Galton's relation to Charles Darwin?

He was a relative of Darwin Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Concept of Intelligence

Intelligence is often associated with problem-solving abilities and knowledge of the world.
It is recognized as being multifaceted, functional, and culturally defined.
There are different types of intelligence, including:
- Practical intelligence: enables people to deal effectively with daily life demands.
- Functional intelligence: involves intelligent behavior directed towards accomplishing a task or solving a problem.
- Successful intelligence: involves adapting to, shaping, and selecting environments to achieve various goals (Sternberg, 2004).
Intelligence is also seen as a means to solve problems of adaptation, facilitating survival and reproduction from an evolutionary perspective.
From a cognitive perspective, intelligence is applied cognition, using cognitive skills to solve problems or obtain desired ends.

Definition of Intelligence

Intelligence refers to the application of cognitive skills and knowledge to learn, solve problems, and obtain ends valued by an individual or culture.
It is multifaceted, functional, and directed at problems of adaptation.
Intelligence is culturally shaped and defined, as cultural practices support and recognize intellectual qualities useful in the social and ecological context.

Intelligence Testing

Measuring intelligence is not straightforward, and psychologists use psychometric instruments to quantify psychological attributes.
Intelligence tests are designed to assess an individual's cognitive level relative to others in a population.
The context and purpose of intelligence testing are fundamental considerations when measuring intelligence.
The clinician has a vital role in ensuring the appropriate instrument is chosen, the administration protocol is adhered to, and results are interpreted in line with the intended outcomes.

History of Intelligence Testing

Sir Francis Galton was the first to make a systematic effort to measure intelligence.
Galton devised a correlation procedure to examine the relationship between simple measures of intelligence.
He believed that intelligence and social pre-eminence were products of evolutionary processes and that intelligence runs in families.
Galton's work was influenced by the theory of evolution and his cousin, Charles Darwin.