This chapter discusses theories of intelligence, including general intelligence (G-factor) and multiple intelligences, as well as the biological basis and types of intelligence like fluid, crystallized, practical, and emotional intelligence. It addresses definitions of intelligence and approaches to measuring intelligence through tests. The chapter also covers topics like mental retardation, giftedness, variations in intellectual ability, and the influence of genetics and environment on intelligence and IQ scores.

1. UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOLOGY
9TH EDITION
By Robert Feldman
Powerpoint slides by Kimberly Foreman

2.  CHAPTER NINE:
INTELLIGENCE

3. MODULE 26: What is
Intelligence?
 What are the different definitions and
conceptions of intelligence?
 What are the major approaches to
measuring intelligence, and what do
intelligence tests measure?

4. Theories of Intelligence: Are There
Different Kinds of Intelligence?
 G-factor
› General factor for mental ability
› Was thought to underlie performance in
every aspect of intelligence
› Recent theories view intelligence as a
multidimensional concept

5. Theories of Intelligence: Are There
Different Kinds of Intelligence?
 Fluid Intelligence
› Reflects information-processing capabilities,
reasoning, and memory
 Crystallized Intelligence
› Accumulation of information, skills, and
strategies that people learn through
experience

6. Theories of Intelligence: Are There
Different Kinds of Intelligence?
 Gardner’s Multiple
Intelligences: The
Many Ways of
Showing Intelligence
› Eight different forms of
intelligence

7. Theories of Intelligence: Are There
Different Kinds of Intelligence?
 Is Information Processing Intelligence?
› Information-processing approach
 Way people store material in memory and use
that material to solve intellectual tasks
 Speed of processing

8. The Biological Basis of
Intelligence
 Lateral Prefrontal
Cortex
 Higher intelligence is
related to the
thickness of the
cerebral cortex

9. Practical Intelligence and
Emotional Intelligence
 Practical Intelligence
› Related to overall success in living
 Emotional Intelligence
› Set of skills that underlie the accurate
assessment, evaluation, expression, and
regulation of emotions

10. Assessing Intelligence
 Intelligence Tests
› Quantify and measure intelligence in an
objective manner

11. Assessing Intelligence
 Binet and The Development of IQ tests
› Mental age (MA)
› Chronological age (CA)
› Intelligence quotient (IQ)
› Deviation IQ scores
› Bell-shaped distribution
› IQ score = MA x 100
CA

12. Assessing Intelligence
 Contemporary IQ Tests: Gauging
Intelligence
› Achievement test
 Designed to determine a person’s level of
knowledge in a specific subject area
› Aptitude test
 Designed to predict a person’s ability in a
particular area or line of work

13. Assessing Intelligence
 Reliability and Validity: Taking the
Measure of Tests
› Reliability
 Tests measure consistently what they are trying
to measure
› Validity
 Tests actually measure what they are
supposed to measure
› Norms
 Standards of test performance that permit the
comparison of one person’s score on a test to
scores of others

14. Assessing Intelligence
 Adaptive Testing: Using Computers to
Assess Performance
› Adaptive in the sense that the computer
individualizes the test to the test-taker

15. Scoring Better on Standardized
Tests
 Learn as much as you can about the test
before you take it
 Practice
 If the test is administered on a computer,
take practice tests on a computer
 Time yourself carefully
 Be aware of the scoring policy
 If it is a paper-and-pencil test, complete
answer sheets accurately

16. MODULE 27: Variations in
Intellectual Ability
 How can the extremes of intelligence be
characterized?
 How can we help people reach their full
potential?

17. Mental Retardation
 Disability characterized by significant
limitations both in intellectual functioning
and in conceptual, social, and practical
adaptive skills
› Mild with an IQ of 55 to 69
› Moderate with an IQ of 40 to 54
› Severe with an IQ of 25 to 39
› Profound with an IQ below 25

18. Mental Retardation
 Identifying the Roots of Mental
Retardation
› Fetal alcohol syndrome
 Caused by a mother’s use of alcohol while
pregnant
› Familial retardation
 No apparent biological defect exists but there
is a history of retardation in the family

19. Mental Retardation
 Integrating Individuals with Mental
Retardation
› Education for All Handicapped Children Act
of 1975 (Public Law 94-142)
 Least restrictive environment
 Mainstreaming
 Full inclusion

20. The Intellectually Gifted
 Have IQ scores greater than 130
 Programs for the gifted are designed to
provide enrichment that allows
participants’ talents to flourish

21. MODULE 28: Group Differences in
Intelligence: Genetic and
Environmental Determinants
 Are traditional IQ tests culturally biased?
 Are there racial differences in
intelligence?
 To what degree is intelligence influenced
by the environment, and to what degree
by heredity?

22. MODULE 28: Group Differences in
Intelligence: Genetic and
Environmental Determinants
 Background and experiences of test-
takers have the potential to affect results
 Some standardized IQ tests contain
elements that discriminate against
minority-group members whose
experiences differ from those of the white
majority

23. The Relative Influence of Genetics
and Environment: Nature,
Nurture, and IQ
 Culture-fair IQ Test
› One that does not discriminate against the
members of any minority group
 Heritability
› Measure of the degree to which a
characteristic can be attributed to genetic,
inherited factors