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Psycho Bite Size - Multiple Intelligences

Multiple Intelligences

Multiple Intelligences

Since the 1950s,psychologists have been working to the principle that there is no longer onetype of intelligence that determines how successful we are in our life and work. We see in others various abilities and skills that are different from our own and distinguishable from other abilities that we would term intelligence.

This month, PsychoBitesize will look to understand how we can begin to categorise intelligenceand how we can determine the key areas of intelligence needed for particular roles.

What have key thinkers said about multiple intelligences?

Edward Thorndike – ‘Social intelligenceis acting wisely in human relationships’

Karl Albrecht – ‘There is an ability toget along with people which represents an intelligence in itself’

Daniel Goleman – ‘Social intelligencesare made up of social awareness and social facility’

How can we describe people and their different intelligences?

Human intelligence is not a single trait and even within the realms of social intelligence, there are a number of key factors to consider.

Albrecht took the work of Gardner and categorised six key distinguishable areas of intelligence. Theseare shown below and act as a simple but effective way to understand someone’snatural skills. Of course, we also learn skills that accompany these throughoutour life, as with regular measures of intelligence.

How can we measure other intelligences?

Quite simply, they can bemeasured in a similar way to regular intelligence, using the IQ measurement system. Like IQ, there are measures that look at social intelligence on thesame scale, with 100 being the average and scores above 140 being above average.

Again, as with regular IQmeasures, social intelligence scores can be used to assume certain levels ofability in social interactions. People with low social IQ are consideredchild-like and immature in interactions. Extreme low scores are indicators of autism and aspergers.

Albrecht has also developed measures of social intelligence that allow us to anticipate howsomeone’s behaviour may be. This report is based on the notion of Nourishing and Toxic behaviours.

Nourishing behaviours – cause others to feelvalued, capable, respected and appreciated.

Toxic behaviours – cause others to feelde-valued, inadequate, angry, frustrated or guilty.

The extent to whichindividuals use these behaviours is important.

How important are different intelligences?

This depends entirely onthe role which people are expected to play, and perhaps more importantly, how they are expected to conduct themselves in that role.

Research shows that thereis increasing recognition of other intelligences. A new study shows that business leaders rank emotional and social intelligence competencies as more important than traditional leadership attributes.

Traits such as relationship building and self-awarenessnow rank higher than traditional competencies such as ‘execution’ and ‘financial acumen’. The combination ofdifferent intelligences is always the best way to create an accurate picture ofthe individual. It is also important to note that not all intelligences are necessary.

For example, many great leaders would be considered as having highsocial intelligence, an ability to engage and influence others in a positive way.

However, that does not mean they have high emotional intelligence. Infact, they may not care for, connect with or understand people at all on anemotional level.