Different psychologists have proposed competing theories of intelligence over the years. These theories have proven to be useful in our understanding the brain.

1. What Are The Different
Theories Of Intelligence in
Physchology?
Scientists have been studying the brain for hundreds of years, and still
they’ve only scratched the surface. We’ve yet to figure out what this
remarkable mass of advanced biological material is capable of.
Different psychologists have proposed competing theories of
intelligence over the years. These theories have proven to be useful
in our understanding the brain.
There are several unique approaches to intelligence we will explore in
this article. You’ll get a better idea of what intelligence is and what the
scientists and psychologists have to say about the topic.

2. Discovering your individual cognitive strengths will propel you on
a path towards better control over your own life. You can hone your
skills, step into your true self, and live your life from a place of greater
self-awareness.
What Is Intelligence And Its Theories?
“My work is about transcending. It’s about ending this mass hypnosis
that we’re not enough, that we’re not smart enough, that we’re not
good enough. I want to disrupt and shatter that limiting belief.” — Jim
Kwik, Author of Mindvalley’s Superbrain Program
Intelligence is a complex thing to define. But it can be broadly thought
of as the measure of a person’s ability to master a specific
cognitive function, such as problem solving, logical reasoning, and
self-awareness.
We’re going to explore three competing theories of intelligence to
help you understand the different cognitive strengths you may
possess:
 Spearman’s Two-factor theory of intelligence
 Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
 Gardner’s Theory Of Multiple Intelligence

3. What Is Spearman’s Theory Of Intelligence?
Charles Spearman, an English psychologist, noticed that students who
did well in one subject area tended to do well in corresponding
subjects.
He concluded that human beings possess a generalized form of
intelligence, known as a g-factor, which can lead to other specialized
forms of intelligence, measured by s-factor.
G-factor is a sum of s-factor scores that measure a person’s abilities in
one particular area. Generally excepted s-factors of intelligence
include memory, attention, verbal comprehension, spatial skills, and
abstract reasoning.

4. The g-factor and the s-factor are two parts of Spearman’s Two-factor
theory of intelligence.
IQ tests, which measure general cognitive ability, are derived from his
theory of general intelligence.
Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
American psychologist, Robert Sternberg, made his name by proposing
the triarchic theory of intelligence. This theory asserts that human
intelligence can be divided into three types: analytical, creative, and
practical intelligence.
Analytical intelligence refers to a person’s ability to assess
informationand use deductive reasoning to arrive at plausible
solutions.
Creative intelligence draws on a person’s ability to create
something from nothing or to do something in a unique and novel
way.
Practical intelligence is the intelligence of common sense
reasoning, commonly referred to as “street smarts”.
Sternberg believed that a balanced measure of all three forms of
intelligence would result in the greatest life success.
Gardner’s Theory Of Multiple Intelligence
In contrast to the two theories of intelligence we’ve just examined,
Gardner’s theory proposes nine different types of intelligence.
Howard Gardner is an American psychologist who first proposed his
theory in the 1980s. He counters the standard psychological view of
generalized intelligence by suggesting nine unique forms of
intelligence:

5. 1. Naturalistic Intelligence
Naturalistic intelligence is the intelligence of the natural world.
People who possess naturalistic intelligence have keen outdoor
sensibilities, are born wayfinders, and have a strong connection with
Mother Nature.
2. Musical Intelligence
People who are musically intelligent have a natural draw to all things
acoustic and musical. They have a talent for identifying sound,
pitch, rhythm, and timbre.
3. Logical-Mathematical Intelligence
We’re all familiar with this form of intelligence. If you are logically
intelligent, you’re able to use deductive analysis, logical

6. reasoning, and executive planning to your advantage. Those with
this form of intelligence work well with numbers and are skilled
problem solvers.
4. Existential Intelligence
Those with existential intelligence have a knack for tackling the big
questions of life. What is life? Where does it come from? Who am I?
What should I do with my life? If you possess existential intelligence,
you have a philosophical mind and have no trouble grappling with
abstract concept and theory.
5. Interpersonal Intelligence
If you possess great interpersonal abilities, you possess emotional
intelligence. People with this intelligence have a natural ability to
understand the thoughts, actions, and motives of others.
6. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
This type of intelligence is displayed by those with great control over
their physical bodies. Many dancers, athletes, and physical therapists
possess kinesthetic intelligence. These people have mastered control
over the physical form and are effective physical communicators.

7. 7. Linguistic Intelligence
People with linguistic intelligence are skilled wordsmiths. They’re able
to use words to convey different feelings, ideas, and
theories with ease. They also have a predisposition for visual
learning, so they can quickly master new languages.
8. Intrapersonal Intelligence
Intrapersonal intelligence is intelligence of the self. True self-
awareness is rare in today’s world, and those with intrapersonal
intelligence know themselves more intimately than any other. This is
the intelligence of introspection and self-knowing.
9. Visual-Spatial Intelligence

8. Those with visual-spatial intelligence relate well to the world around
them. They are natural born navigators and possess a keen
understanding of the visual world. They often pick up on fine
details others are unaware of and can manipulate three-dimensional
images in their mind’s eye.
What Is The Best Theory Of Intelligence?
We’ve given you the rundown of three different theories of
intelligence. So, the question is: which theory is best?
There’s really no one size fits all when it comes to intelligence.
Spearman’s theory of generalized intelligence remains one of the most
recognized, but newer theories, like Gardner’s and Sternberg’s, offer
new and promising insights.
While IQ tests remain the standardized test of intelligence, this may
not always be the case.
As our world changes and new theories of intelligence continue to
emerge, we may find that our assumptions about human intelligence
aren’t quite what we once thought.