09 Track 9

Review unit 2

fluency practice

review reading 4

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Page 116

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences

What do you think about when someone says the word “intelligence”? You might say that it’s that mysterious quality that helps people to succeed in life. Intelligent students are more likely to do well in tests and at school in general.

Experts have traditionally seen a high level of intelligence as applicable across the board to most human activities, guaranteeing the possessor of high intelligence success in whatever he or she does.

In the 1980s, however, a new hypothesis about intelligence was developed. The theory of multiple intelligences was first conceived by a Harvard University professor named Howard Gardner.

His book, Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, suggested that the mind does not possess just one kind of intelligence, but rather many distinct “intelligences.”

Among the intelligences Gardner identifies are linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, naturalistic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal.

He has also alluded to several others and suggested that there could be many more intelligences to be discovered.

A person with a high level of linguistic intelligence is endowed with a large vocabulary and the ability to express him or herself well. Gardner sees the poet as the best example of an astute user of language. In creating poems, poets make use of the full complexity of meaning in the widest range of linguistic dynamics.

Naturally, someone with a high level of linguistic intelligence would excel at any of a wide variety of language-related activities including writing, teaching, persuading others, and public speaking.

Logical mathematical intelligence refers to the skills often associated with scientists and mathematicians. Societies tend to associate this type of intelligence with “true” intelligence, somehow giving it a more central or significant role than other intelligences.

Gardner certainly disagrees with this point of view. He sees logical-mathematical intelligence as simply one among a set of intelligences. While he asserts that it has been of exceptional importance in Western societies, he points out that it is played a more modest role in other societies.

Spatial intelligence refers to the ability to visualize things in the mind accurately and precisely. This intelligence is therefore associated with artists, who are experts in visualizing and making intelligent use of forms and colors.

A person with a high level of spatial intelligence may also have an excellent visual memory, and perhaps even a so-called photographic memory.

Yet another intelligence that has been defined by Gartner is musical intelligence. As you might imagine, a person with a high level of musical intelligence excels at singing, playing musical instruments, and composing music.

Gardner points out that this intelligence seems to develop earlier than the others, as seen by numerous child musical prodigies.

The bodily-kinesthetic intelligence may surprise people, who are used to thinking of intelligence as something “inside the head.”

This is because it involves awareness of surroundings, and the exceptional ability to control the body. People with a high level of bodily kinesthetic intelligence might excel at building or making things, sports, dancing, or even surgery.

Another controversial intelligence, which has been more recently proposed by Gardner is naturalistic intelligence. Critics have more difficulty accepting this as an intelligence and instead see this one as an area of interest.

Gardner hypothesizes that people who have a high level of naturalistic intelligence are more sensitive to nature and to their own relationship to it. For example, someone who has success at growing plants has this intelligence.

A person who is successful at raising caring for or training animals could also be said to have a high level of naturalistic intelligence.

Such a person could be a successful gardener, farmer, or animal trainer, and would also make a good scientist studying the natural world, or a conservationist involved in protecting it.

The personal intelligences include interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence. Intrapersonal intelligence refers to the capacity to access and control one’s interior life of feelings, moods and emotions.

Someone who can accurately describe sensations of pleasure or pain or someone who, rather than being controlled by feelings is able to exercise restraint over them and understand them could be said to have high intrapersonal intelligence.

On the other hand, people who have a high level of interpersonal intelligence are able to notice and understand the moods, intentions and motivations of others. These individuals are effective communicators who display great empathy and work well in groups.

This revolutionary theory of multiple intelligences has resulted in several criticisms. Some have questioned the criteria that qualify something as an intelligence something that we might otherwise simply call a talent or an ability.

Others have pointed out that the existence of multiple intelligences has never been proven through scientific research. These criticisms. Notwithstanding the theory of multiple intelligences has sparked fascinating debate about the value and nature of intelligence.

Its applications in the field of education have led to more diverse educational methods as teachers seek to access and develop the multiple intelligences of students.

End of CD number 2