INTRODUCTION TO INTELLIGENCE
The word Intelligence comes from the Latin word intelligere meaning “to understand.” It refers
to a person’s ability to learn, reason, solve problems, and adapt effectively to different situations
in life. Intelligence is considered an important part of human intellectual functioning. It helps us
in school learning, decision-making, problem-solving, and day-to-day adjustment.
INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT (IQ)
The concept of the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) was developed to measure intellectual functioning.
IQ tests compare an individual’s performance with that of people of the same age group.
IQ = (Mental Age / Chronological Age) × 100
IQ tests mainly measure logical and academic skills. They do not measure all kinds of
intelligence such as creativity, emotional or social intelligence. Research shows that average IQ
scores have improved across generations due to better nutrition, education, and living conditions
(known as the Flynn Effect).
MAJOR THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE
1. General Intelligence
British psychologist Charles Spearman (1863-1945) described the concept of general intelligence
or the 'g' factor. After using factor analysis to examine mental aptitude tests, Spearman
concluded that scores on these tests were remarkably similar.
People who performed well on one cognitive test tended to perform well on other tests, while
those who scored badly on others have scored badly on one test. He concluded that intelligence
is a general cognitive ability that researchers can measure and express numerically.
2. Primary Mental Abilities – Thurstone
Psychologist Louis L. Thurnstone (1887-1955) focused on seven primary mental abilities rather
than a single, Identified seven primary abilities instead:
1. Associative Memory – ability to memorize and recall.
2. Numerical Ability – solving mathematical problems.
3. Perceptual Speed – noticing similarities and differences.
4. Reasoning – ability to find rules and patterns.
5. Spatial Visualization – understanding and imagining spatial relations.
6. Verbal Comprehension – understanding meanings of words.
