I was once asked to deliver a train-the-trainer following an IQ test, to decide who'd be the best for a training job. I tried to convince my distinguished client that it might not be that beneficial for his needs, a waste of time and money and might offend participants. No way, it was the evil that had to be done! IQ tests work better for some people than others – and this is not simply for the obvious reason that some people are "smarter". If you're good with words and logic, then the typical IQ test probably works well for you. But what if words and logic aren't your strong skills, but you're still extremely good at what you do? Here, traditional IQ scores do not seem to be reflecting your true intelligence.
A quick look at intelligence testing
The study of intelligence began in Paris in the late 1890s with Alfred Binet, who developed a test designed to identify children with special educational needs. His approach of quantifying intelligence was then readily accepted worldwide. Schools began testing children and adopting curricula that would help students improve their IQs. Getting into the right college or university is still often dependent on IQ. In the 1970s, Howard Gardner, a professor of education at Harvard University, started questioning the traditional definition of intelligence on which such tests were based. Gardner worked with talented children and adults who had brain damage. He found that people had many other gifts and talents that weren't necessarily reflected in the traditional ideals of intelligence. He used a variety of sources – including neurophysiologic research and studies with autistic people, geniuses,…. – to support his model that various parts of the brain provide different types of intelligence. In 1983, Gardner published the book "Frames of Mind," which outlined seven different types of intelligence. Ten years later, he added an eighth type. This multiple intelligences (MI) theory became a popular model for understanding the many ways in which human intelligence exists. The multiple intelligences The multiple intelligences theory (MI theory) claims that all humans have eight intelligences, to a lesser or greater extent, and that we each have a different intelligence profile. This profile is based on our genetics and our experiences, and it makes us unique from others. The intelligences are as follows: • Linguistic intelligence – This is the ability to use spoken and written language effectively to express yourself. Lawyers, writers, and speakers tend to have high linguistic intelligence. • Logical-mathematical intelligence – This is the ability to analyze problems logically, work effectively with mathematical operations, and investigate issues using scientific methods. People working in the scientific and mathematical communities tend to be high in this type of intelligence. • Musical intelligence – This is the ability to perform, compose, and appreciate musical patterns, including changes in pitch, tone, and rhythm. Successful musicians, composers, and DJ's have high levels of musical intelligence. • Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence – This is the ability to use the body for expression. People high in this intelligence use their physical coordination to master problems. Professional dancers and athletes are good examples of this. • Spatial intelligence – This is the ability to recognize, use, and interpret images and patterns and to reproduce objects in three dimensions. Successful architects, sculptors and designers are likely to have high spatial intelligence. • Interpersonal intelligence – This is the ability to understand people's intentions, motivations, and desires. This intelligence allows individuals to work well with others. Professions like therapy, training, and sales attract individuals with high interpersonal intelligence. • Intrapersonal intelligence – This is the ability to understand yourself, and to interpret and appreciate your own feelings and motivations. Therapists, actors, and writers are all people who can bring high levels of personal awareness to their work. • Naturalist intelligence (8th) – This is the ability to recognise and appreciate our relationship with the natural world. Astronomers, biologists, and zoologists are examples of professions with a high level of naturalist intelligence. So if this is Gardner's theory, how do we use it? • It encourages us to respect and value more in people than the results given by a single dimension IQ test. In some roles, areas, and professions, standard IQ measurements may not be of much use at all. • It encourages us to treat the results of standard IQ tests with care, and to supplement or replace them with tests more directly related to the job at hand. Final words: Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences has created a new understanding of intelligence. It also emphasises the importance of understanding what intelligence really is, and it's forced us to question the way we perceive intelligence. By breaking free of the limits of logical and linguistic intelligence, the MI model introduces a broader perspective and better appreciation for all the ways that people can deliver value. And while multiple intelligences theory has its critics, it's provided a much-needed opportunity to look at the various ways in which we can express our different talents, abilities, and preferences.
