What’s Your Intelligence Type?
About twenty-five years ago, Dr. Howard Gardner came up with a new theory about intelligence. He proposed that people were much more complex than what could be revealed in an IQ test or any other standardized testing model. He argued that different people have different strengths (i.e. intelligence types).
Before this time, it was generally believed that intelligence was a single entity that was inherited. Today, most researchers believe the opposite; that there exists a multitude of intelligences that are quite independent of each other. It is also now believed that each of these intelligence types comes with its own strengths and constraints.
Dr. Howard Gardner built a model of eight different intelligence types, including linguistic and verbal intelligence, logical intelligence, spatial intelligence, body/movement intelligence, musical intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence, and naturalist intelligence. Each one of these intelligence types is located in specific regions of the brain. However, a person can be strong in several intelligence types.
Linguistic and Verbal Intelligence
A person strong in this area is good with words. They are often good at writing, reading, and talking about things. This group often includes writers, poets, lawyers and public speakers.
Logical and Mathematical Intelligence
A person strong in this area is good with math and logic problems. They often enjoy solving mysteries, reading about scientific discoveries, and like to figure out how things work. They are also usually good with computers and a variety of other gadgets.
Spatial Intelligence
A person strong in this area is good with pictures and images. They are often good at putting puzzles together. They appreciate art and photography, like to draw or doodle, notice details, prefer geometry over algebra, and are good at directions.
Body and Movement Intelligence
A person strong in this area is good with sports and movement. They often talk with their hands, like to build things, clown around in class, have great balance, and are good at a variety of sports.
Musical Intelligence
A person strong in this area is good with music and rhythm. They can often read music, remember old songs, notice patterns, and can naturally figure out how to play a tune on an instrument.
Interpersonal Intelligence
A person strong in this area is good with people. They are good listeners, can read body language, hate injustice, can see through people who aren’t being honest, hurt when others hurt, enjoy deep conversations, and often reach out to others who are hurting. Educators, counselors, salespeople, religious and political leaders all need a well-developed interpersonal intelligence.
Intrapersonal Intelligence
A person strong in this area is good at analyzing things. They often think a lot and are highly aware of their strengths and weaknesses. They also often keep a journal and think deeply about life.
Naturalist Intelligence
A person strong in this area is good at understanding nature. They enjoy the wilderness and like to read about nature. They also categorize things, collect things, and enjoy studying plant parts.
Schools often favor verbal-linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligences. This is because most
schools are centered around verbal lectures and a core curriculum that puts a lot of importance on science and math. To cater to all types of learners, schools must strive to find a balance that incorporates the arts, self-awareness, communication, and physical education.
By teaching students in a variety of different forms, we allow them to become holistic learners.
After reviewing this list, which areas are you strongest in? Please feel free to share them in the comments section.
Kim Roach is a productivity junkie who blogs regularly at The Optimized Life. Read her articles on What’s Your Learning Style, How to Have a 46 Hour Day, Do You Need a Braindump, What They Don’t Teach You in School, and Free Yourself From the Inbox.
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Comments
xadrian says on May 30th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Is it weird to think you’re strong in all of them? I identified with all sections save Intrapersonal and only because I don’t know my own strengths and weaknesses.
Wolfger says on May 30th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Not enough categories, in my opinion. For example, I’m fairly skilled at linguistics, but not so much verbal. I’m better at logical than mathematical.
I think my strengths are probably inter/intra-personal and logical. I’m fantastic with computers, a good empathic listener (though I have trouble remembering things), and I love to analyze.
Dan says on May 30th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Interpersonal Intelligence; the first thing on my mind after reading this article was ‘what kind of self absorbed comments will this article trigger’.
Musical and i’d like to think a little of each as would everyone… apart from anything concerning co-ordination, dyspraxia doesn’t allow for that! >.
Gemma says on May 30th, 2007 at 11:40 am
Have to agree with the above statement… I can identify with all of the areas. Does this just make me egotistical, haha?
Katomka says on May 30th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Pure pap. Just like horoscopes, a license to enable you to feel good everyday…
Rebecca says on May 30th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
I took an inventory once that included all of these plus maybe two more, one of those two having something to do with the skills involved in like, I hate to say it, home ec type stuff (clothes and food and decorating and all that).
Not surprisingly, I scored very highly on verbal, logical/mathematical, interpersonal, and - ahem - that last category. I scored nothing on the category labeled mechanical, and exceedingly low on all the physical and outdoorsy stuff.
If you think you’re good at everything, take the test.
Reinout van Rees says on May 30th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
I took up the challenge and I’ve listed “my” four intelligence types at http://vanrees.org/weblog/arch.....ence-types
For some time, I’ve had the plan to publicly list my belbin teamrole types, my enneagram type, etc., so this is a good opportunity to start it. I’m preparing the other blogposts right now
Kory says on May 31st, 2007 at 12:25 pm
There’s actually some amount of controversy over whether what Gardner calls an “intelligence” tracks better with what people usually mean by the term, or with what could really be called an “ability.” As I understand it, part of what Gardner was trying to do is deny the existence of a generalized “intelligence.”
Wherever you land in that debate, though, the notion implied by this blog post–that a person could “have” one of these types–is misleading. Saying that there are multiple intelligences is not the same as saying that everyone is a particular intelligence type. It’s not like astrology, where you’re either a Pisces or not. Asking “what’s your intelligence type” is like asking “what finger are you?” I’m a right-index man myself. We all have some measure of each kind of intelligence. Moreover, these aren’t static traits, but instead capacities that can be developed (or not).
I also take issue with the well-meaning bit about how schools ought to balance the curriculum to cater to all intelligence types. While I agree that it’s important to develop a range of abilities in everyone, it is also nevertheless true that our current society values certain kinds of intelligence (or abilities) over others. The reason schools focus on verbal linguistic and logical-mathematical isn’t some perverse quirk of educators, but merely reflects the value larger society puts on those areas.
Other cultures have different emphases, and those change over time (a point Gardner makes, I believe). We could argue that musical intelligence gets short shrift. Musical virtuosos are a great thing to have. But how many of them do we need? Maybe our schools focus on developing those kinds of intelligence because they are better at accomplishing certain tasks, like building a bridge, or curing a disease.
james igoe says on June 3rd, 2007 at 7:26 am
As mentioner elsewhere, Gardner was responding to the concept global intelligence, g, the intercorrelations between factors. Gardner’s is an attempt to minimize the importance of IQ by broadening the concept of intelligence. Gardner has no test for the type of intelligences he hypothesizes.
As for the hypothesis’ validity, the first 2 intercorrelated, and not specifically separate types of intelligence; they would correspond to standard IQ measures. Also, musical intelligence correlates with mathematical IQ and is not entirely distinct. Naturalist intelligence seems to be no different than the standard IQ measures, but simply IQ applied to nature.
I score highly on the first standard IQ measures, verbal/mathematical, because they are, at least in some conceptions of intelligence, part of the same global ability. Also, I score highly on tests of spatial intelligence, as well as the 2 emotional dimensions, interpersonal/interpersonal. Lastly, as mentioned, the naturalist intelligence seems to be like the standard IQ measures, so I’d imagine I would do well with that.
Alison says on August 22nd, 2007 at 6:50 pm
can someone be put in to more then one? i’ve read through them and noticed that im half of this and half of that. what one should i say im most like?
Diexy says on November 5th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Linguistic and Verbal Intelligence:
3 words- really really bad
Naturalist:
I do COLLECT and use colorfull pens and like animals.
Intrapersonal:
I do think about myshelf, not all the time. I dont keep a dairy I did start writing on a dairy once the night after when I came to write on the dairy I didn’t have anything to say so I ignored my Dairy ever since.
Musical:
I do remember some music i heard a long time ago even the name of that particular song, that’s how far I go with music.
Spatail:
I do think sometimes and picture myshelf in many different situations so i do have some spatail intelligence.
logic:
I can make my teacher laugh. To include everyone I joke with my parents, friends and the cat. I failed when it came to make the cat laugh.In sports i’m able to ran fast and i am not flexible.
Interpersonal intelligence:
I know when it’s time for jokes or time to help. I’m not that good at being a leader but i can open up people minds and aid them to a certain extinct. Cause after you have to decide for yourshelf not let people tell you what to do.
I hope what i written makes sense with the title.
Bilal Naeem says on February 15th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
stupid article really shallow
the options are such that everyone can relate to each of them.
be more specific next time
shyuj says on February 18th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
HI I am Shyuj I would like to say this web sight did NOT work for me and I thank it should not be on this web site.
aida says on April 21st, 2008 at 9:34 pm
i am sorry but this sucked, and it needs major clean up.