Definition of Intelligence
Over the last years, views on intelligence have evolved considerably. Theorists have different opinions about intelligence, but the majority of them agree that intelligence has several distinct qualities. For example, it is adaptive, involves learning ability, involves the use of prior knowledge, has many different mental processes, and is culture specific. Theorists have combined all these qualities to create a definition for intelligence. Intelligence is defined as the ability to apply past knowledge and experiences flexibly an in a culturally appropriate manner to accomplish challenging new tasks
Theorists
There are several theorists that have made great contributions to the different perspectives on intelligence. Some of these theorists are the French psychologist Alfred Binet (1857-1911), the British psychologist Charles Spearman (1863-1945), the British psychologist Raymond Cattell (1905-1998), the American psychologist Howard Gardner, the American psychologist Robert Sternberg, and many others. The most important contributions were made by Alfred Binet and Howard Gardner. The psychologist Binet created a test to measure general knowledge, vocabulary, memory, perception, and abstract thought in students. Such test was the base of what now we know as intelligence test. Howard Gardener proposed that children and adults have at least eight different abilities or multiple intelligences. He identified these intelligences as linguistic intelligence, logical-mathematical intelligence, spatial intelligence, musical intelligence, bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence, and naturalistic intelligence.
Measuring Intelligence
Intelligence tests are used to assess children’s cognitive functioning and predict academic achievement. It is also used to identify children who may need special education or children who may have exceptionally high abilities. Some examples of these tests are Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, the Cognitive Assessment System, and Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test.
Intelligence Scores
IQ score is known as the score on an intelligence test determined by comparing one’s performance with the performance of same-age peers.
Evidence for Hereditary Influences
There are several factors that mix together in the development of children’s intelligence. Children possess unique genetic profiles that contribute to their own developing intellectual abilities. Children who suffer specific genetic defects or genetic illness have lower IQ scores than children who do not suffer any type of disability. An example of genetic disability that affects children’s intelligence is Down syndrome. Twin’s intelligence is also affected due to hereditary influences. Studies have proved that identical twins have their genes virtually equivalent whereas that fraternal twins share around 50 percent of their genes and the other 50 percent is unique to each twin. This means that identical twins IQ scores are more similar than the IQ scores of fraternal twins.
Evidence for Environmental Influences
The environment has also significant impact on children’s intelligence. Environmental influences that affect intelligence include malnutrition before and after birth, toxic substance in children’s prenatal environments, poor medical care, and lack of care at home. All of these things and many others may have negative effects in the intellectual development of children causing them poor performance in school and lower academic achievement. If children suffer any of these effects or all of them before starting school, their IQ scores are below on average than those children who never experienced lack of healthcare, malnutrition, or neglect at home.
The Flynn Effect
Many years ago the results for IQ tests were not the same as the results in these times. IQ scores have been increasing slowly for past decades. Such increase is known as the Flynn effect. This positive effect on intelligence has been positively affected by several factors like genetic and the environment. Humans have developed and evolved tremendously compared to hundreds of years ago. As a result of this, our genetics have evolved just as we did. Some scientists believed that our genetic have changed because now we are aware of the negative effects that children suffer when they are conceived by close relatives such as first cousins. Many years ago, people had children between close relatives and this caused some damage in the development of human genetic. Other scientists believed that the Flynn effect is the result of changes in children’s environments. They think that the factors responsible for such increase is the result of better attention and care to children before and after birth, better nutrition, better schooling programs, better healthcare, and higher quality home environments.
Nature and Nurture Influence on Intelligence
Psychologists believed that nature and nurture influence children’s intellectual development. Hereditary and environmental influences combine together to influence children’s intelligence. Heredity establishes a ranger rather than a precise figure. This means that heredity does not state that a child will have a specific IQ score; on the contrary it is a range of abilities that a child is going to develop as he grows and interacts with others. Genes are also influenced by environmental conditions. Genes are not independent carries of particular characteristics; instead they are flexible instructions that respond directly to circumstances in the child’s body. Intelligence is the result of many genes and each one contributes a little bit to the efficiency of thinking processes.
As children grow and develop they begin to relate with people and choose their own environments. They constantly look out environmental conditions that match their inherited abilities. As children get older they become more independent and spend less time at home because they prefer to explore the outside world. Such interest for the outside world gives them the opportunity some independence and possibilities to make their own decision. From their experiences, children keep learning and as a result of this their intellectual capabilities develops as well.
As children grow and develop they begin to relate with people and choose their own environments. They constantly look out environmental conditions that match their inherited abilities. As children get older they become more independent and spend less time at home because they prefer to explore the outside world. Such interest for the outside world gives them the opportunity some independence and possibilities to make their own decision. From their experiences, children keep learning and as a result of this their intellectual capabilities develops as well.
Demographic Factors
Gender, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity and race are demographics factors that affect intellectual development. There are some differences in IQ scores between boy and girls. These average differences in specific cognitive abilities that are found between boys and girls are usually small and they are mostly present due to hormonal differences or anatomical differences in the brain. Intellectual development is also associated with socioeconomic status. Children from lower socioeconomic status families have lower IQ scores than those children who come from middle socioeconomic status. They also have a tendency to perform poorly in school than their peers. Ethnicity and race are two other factors that negatively affect intelligence on children. Every culture has its own traditions about intellectual development. Every child is raised within his family tradition, values, and ethnic and racial groups but not everyone in that society is giving the same opportunities. As a consequence of these, minority groups can experience certain limitations on the intellectual development of children.