Can you measure intelligence? | Introduction to Psychology 10 of 30 | Study Hall
Summary
TLDRThis video from Study Hall's 'Intro to Psychology' explores the complexity of intelligence, examining how the concept has evolved over time. It highlights different theories, from Spearman's general intelligence to Gardner's multiple intelligences. It also delves into the limitations of IQ tests, discussing how they often reflect cultural biases. The video emphasizes that intelligence is not one-dimensional but multifaceted, including reasoning, problem-solving, and creativity. It concludes by suggesting that intelligence can't be easily measured, as it involves various mental abilities that manifest in different ways depending on context.
Takeaways
- š§ Intelligence is multifaceted and difficult to define, with various theories proposing different aspects of it.
- šØāš¬ Sir Francis Galton was an early researcher into intelligence, investigating whether it was inherited.
- š Charles Spearman introduced the 'g factor' for general intelligence, suggesting a common factor behind all intellectual abilities.
- š¤ Raymond Cattell differentiated between fluid and crystallized intelligence, highlighting different ways people can be smart.
- š Robert Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence includes practical, academic, and creative intelligence.
- šØ Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences recognizes at least eight distinct types of intelligence, including emotional and musical.
- š IQ tests, like the Stanford-Binet scale, measure intelligence but have flaws and biases.
- š« IQ tests can disadvantage certain groups due to cultural and racial biases in their construction.
- š£ Language plays a significant role in measuring intelligence, as it's a primary means of expressing cognitive abilities.
- š¤·āāļø Code-switching is an example of intelligence in action, showing adaptability in communication based on context.
- š§© Schemas and heuristics are cognitive tools that influence decision-making and illustrate the complexity of intelligence.
Q & A
What is intelligence according to the video?
-Intelligence is defined as the ability to learn, understand, and use reasoning skills. It's a general concept that includes various forms of mental abilities.
How did Sir Francis Galton contribute to the study of intelligence?
-Sir Francis Galton was one of the first scholars to try and figure out if intelligence was inherited, starting the scientific study of intelligence in the mid-19th century.
What is the 'g factor' proposed by Charles Spearman?
-The 'g factor' is a theory proposed by Charles Spearman, which refers to general intelligence. It suggests that intelligence is like athletic ability, where someone good at one thing may be good at others as well.
What is the difference between fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence?
-Fluid intelligence involves quick thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving, while crystallized intelligence involves knowledge, memory, and experience that have been stored over time.
What is Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences?
-Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences proposes that there are at least eight different forms of intelligence, including artistic, musical, emotional, and interpersonal intelligence.
Why are IQ tests considered flawed?
-IQ tests are flawed because they often include culturally biased questions, favoring certain groups while disadvantaging others, and intelligence is too complex to be fully captured by a single number.
What is code-switching, and how does it relate to intelligence?
-Code-switching is the ability to adjust the way we speak based on the context or audience. It demonstrates intelligence by showing an understanding of social norms and communication strategies.
What is bounded rationality in decision-making?
-Bounded rationality refers to the idea that decision-making is not always perfectly logical due to limitations like schemas, time constraints, and the information available.
What are heuristics in decision-making?
-Heuristics are mental shortcuts we use to make decisions quickly. While they can be helpful, they aren't always accurate and can lead to biases or incorrect assumptions.
What are schemas, and how do they influence cognition?
-Schemas are mental templates or simplified concepts that help us understand and categorize the world around us. They influence how we make decisions and reason about the world.
Outlines
š§ The Complexity of Intelligence
Intelligence is a multifaceted concept that is hard to define and measure. People tend to associate intelligence with famous individuals like Stephen Hawking or Hermione Granger. However, intelligence varies from person to person and is challenging to quantify. Psychologists have studied intelligence for over a century, revealing its complexity. Theories like the g factor, proposed by Charles Spearman, and others demonstrate that intelligence encompasses various skills and is similar to physical athleticism in that strengths in one area may translate to others.
š The Evolution of Intelligence Theories
Over time, psychologists have developed multiple theories to explain intelligence. Raymond Cattell proposed fluid and crystallized intelligence, while Robert Sternberg introduced the triarchic theory, which includes practical, analytical, and creative intelligence. Howard Gardnerās theory of multiple intelligences suggests at least eight distinct types, such as musical and emotional intelligence. Despite these efforts, a clear definition of intelligence remains elusive, and modern definitions tend to focus on the general ability to learn, understand, and reason.
š§© IQ Tests: Strengths and Limitations
IQ tests, often associated with measuring intelligence, were pioneered by Alfred Binet in the early 20th century. While helpful in some contexts, these tests have significant flaws, especially in their cultural biases. Historically, IQ tests favored privileged groups, often marginalizing minorities and people from diverse backgrounds. Even Binet himself cautioned against reducing intelligence to a single number, noting that intelligence can change over time. As a result, IQ tests are considered flawed and not fully representative of a personās cognitive abilities.
š£ļø The Role of Language in Intelligence
Language plays a critical role in how intelligence is expressed and measured. Different languages shape thought processes, as shown in examples like the Hopi languageās unique way of expressing time. Intelligence can also manifest in diverse forms of language use, such as code-switching, which involves adapting language based on social context. These variations make it difficult to capture intelligence through standardized tests, which often fail to account for such complexity.
š” Cognition and Decision Making
Cognition, which involves mental processes like attention and reasoning, is closely tied to intelligence. People rely on schemas, or simplified mental templates, to make sense of the world and make decisions. However, decision-making is often limited by ābounded rationality,ā where cognitive limitations, such as time or incomplete information, prevent perfectly logical decisions. This applies in real-world scenarios, such as choosing a kickball team in gym class, where strategies like elimination or heuristics (mental shortcuts) are used to make quick, but sometimes flawed, decisions.
š§ Intelligence, Context, and Decision Making
Intelligence is expressed through decision-making, which is influenced by the context and cognitive strategies a person uses. Mental shortcuts, or heuristics, play a role in quick decisions, but they may not always be accurate. This highlights how context affects both cognition and the expression of intelligence. Whether it's making decisions in everyday situations or solving puzzles under pressure, intelligence is shaped by the environment and limitations people face.
š The Challenge of Measuring Intelligence
Measuring intelligence is a complex task. IQ tests and other measures struggle to capture the diverse ways intelligence is expressed, particularly given the influence of context, language, and cultural factors. Theories of intelligence have evolved to become more inclusive, recognizing that there are many forms of intelligence. A truly comprehensive test would have to assess a wide range of skills and mental abilities, something no single test can accomplish. As a result, appreciating intelligence means valuing its many forms and expressions.
Mindmap
Keywords
š”Intelligence
š”Fluid Intelligence
š”Crystallized Intelligence
š”IQ Test
š”g factor
š”Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
š”Multiple Intelligences
š”Bounded Rationality
š”Schema
š”Code-switching
Highlights
Intelligence is a complex and multifaceted concept, difficult to define and measure.
Early attempts to study intelligence began with Sir Francis Galton in the mid-19th century.
Charles Spearman introduced the idea of general intelligence (g factor) in the 20th century.
Raymond Cattell proposed two types of intelligence: fluid intelligence (quick thinking) and crystallized intelligence (knowledge and experience).
Robert Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence (1988) included analytical, creative, and practical intelligence.
Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences proposed at least eight forms, including musical, interpersonal, and intrapersonal intelligence.
The concept of intelligence has evolved over time, becoming more inclusive to encompass different types of mental abilities.
IQ tests, like the Stanford-Binet, are often used to measure intelligence but have limitations and biases, especially against marginalized groups.
Psychologists like Alfred Binet warned that intelligence cannot be reduced to a single number and may change over time.
Measuring intelligence is difficult because it often relies on language, which varies greatly between cultures and individuals.
Code-switching, the ability to adjust language based on context, is a form of intelligence that is hard to capture in tests.
Schemas, mental templates that help us categorize the world, play a role in how we reason and make decisions.
Bounded rationality explains that decision-making is limited by factors such as time, information, and mental shortcuts like heuristics.
Heuristics, or mental shortcuts, are used in decision-making but are not always accurate and can lead to errors.
Intelligence is expressed in many forms, and its measurement must be flexible to accommodate different cognitive abilities and cultural contexts.
Transcripts
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Take a moment to think of someone whoāsĀ really smart. A friend, a relative, heck,Ā Ā
even a fictional character! I bet someone cameĀ to mind pretty quickly. Maybe Stephen Hawking,Ā Ā
Ursula K. LeGuin, me, Enola Holmes, orĀ Barack Obama. Or my all-time favorites,Ā Ā
Wade from Kim Possible and Hermione Granger.
What makes them intelligent? IsĀ it their command of a particularĀ Ā
kind of knowledge? Razor-sharpĀ reasoning skills? Resourcefulness?
Now think about another person who is also reallyĀ smart. Are they intelligent in the same way?
We all have an idea of what intelligenceĀ is, but when we really think about it,Ā Ā
intelligence is difficult to really pin down.
Even for psychologists! Because it turnsĀ out that intelligence is as multifacetedĀ Ā
as humans are. Itās not easy to describe,Ā and itās even harder to quantify. That makesĀ Ā
intelligence a fascinating subject of research.Ā As intelligent beings, we love a good puzzle.
Hi, Iām Deja Fitzgerald, and thisĀ is Study Hall: Intro to Psychology.
Intelligence might seem like it should be a simpleĀ concept to get a handle on ā I mean, we talk aboutĀ Ā
how smart people are all the time! But like manyĀ things in psychology, intelligence is complex,Ā Ā
and our concept of it has changed over time. ThatĀ change shows how difficult it is to pin down.
People have been pondering intelligenceĀ for ages, but it wasnāt until the mid 19thĀ Ā
century that scientists really began toĀ study it. Thatās when the English scholarĀ Ā
Sir Francis Galton tried to figure out ifĀ intelligence, as he defined it, was inherited.
And, in the 20th century, the BritishĀ psychologist Charles Spearman proposedĀ Ā
something called the g factor, which is shortĀ for general intelligenceāand coincidentallyĀ Ā
the name of my next mixtape. GeneralĀ intelligence wasnāt exactly a new concept,Ā Ā
but Spearman was the first toĀ express it in statistical terms.
The idea is that intelligence isĀ like being athletic. An olympicĀ Ā
sprinter is probably not going toĀ be the star player in the World Cup,Ā Ā
but theyāre probably goingĀ to be better than, well, me.
So maybe the same thing applies toĀ intelligence. Someone whoās reallyĀ Ā
good at one thing, like computerĀ programming, might also be betterĀ Ā
than a random person at something elseĀ brainy, like learning a second language.
But then, in the 1940s, psychologistĀ Raymond Cattell theorized that no,Ā Ā
wait, we donāt have one g, weĀ have two kinds of intelligence.
Thereās fluid intelligence, which is allĀ about being able to reason and solve problemsĀ Ā
abstractly ā basically quick thinking.Ā And then thereās crystalized intelligence,Ā Ā
which is about knowledge thatās been stored orĀ crystallized in your brain and involves facts,Ā Ā
memory, and experiences.Ā This is more like expertise.
This idea of 2 different kinds of intelligenceĀ opened up new perspectives on how people areĀ Ā
intelligent in different ways. But it didnātĀ explain some key things, like creativity.
In 1988, psychologist Robert SternburgĀ developed the triarchic theory of intelligence,Ā Ā
which proposed that we have 3 kinds ofĀ intelligence that cover our common sense,Ā Ā
academic abilities, and creativity.
And around the same time, psychologistĀ Howard Gardner argued that there areĀ Ā
at least 8 forms of intelligence inĀ his theory of multiple intelligences.Ā Ā
This theory includes everything fromĀ artistic and musical intelligence toĀ Ā
the abilities to understand emotionsĀ and values in yourself and others.
So, over time psychologists haveĀ been breaking up intelligenceĀ Ā
into more and more kinds as views on whatĀ intelligence encompasses continue to evolve.
Each of the theories weāve discussedĀ has its merits, but none of them is aĀ Ā
definitive explanation of intelligence.Ā And while we still donāt have a preciseĀ Ā
idea of what intelligence is, we do haveĀ a working definition that smushes togetherĀ Ā
what weāve learned by exploring all theseĀ theories and more over the last century.
Intelligence is the ability to learn, understand,Ā and use your reasoning skills. Itās prettyĀ Ā
general, and that makes it inclusive and allowsĀ us to value different forms this ability can take.
These theories about what is and isnātĀ intelligence all developed because psychologistsĀ Ā
first tried to measure intelligence. AndĀ when it comes to assessing intelligence,Ā Ā
thereās one number that often comes toĀ mind: the intelligence quotient ā aka IQ.
While not the first to developĀ a test to measure intelligence,Ā Ā
early attempts at a reliable IQ test cameĀ from experiments by French psychologistĀ Ā
Alfred Binet and his colleague Henri SimonĀ around the turn of the 20th century. TheirĀ Ā
work helped create an IQ test called theĀ Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. ThereĀ Ā
are other types of IQ tests out there, butĀ most of them give the same kind of score,Ā Ā
and all were designed to at least partly assessĀ certain aptitudes and weaknesses of students.
These tests follow somethingĀ called a normal distribution,Ā Ā
or a bell curve. Most people willĀ score around average, which is 100,Ā Ā
with extreme scores on either sideĀ occurring with less and less frequency.
Now it seems helpful to have a numberĀ for gauging relative intelligence,Ā Ā
but there are some serious issues with IQ tests.
For example, parts of intelligence testsĀ include questions about facts that areĀ Ā
assumed to be common knowledge. Like askingĀ people to identify a historical explorer.Ā Ā
Those questions leave out people who mayĀ not have learned the information or forĀ Ā
whom the information is irrelevant to theirĀ culture or the area where they live. AndĀ Ā
they favor groups who are ideologicallyĀ or racially similar to the test-makers.
As you may have guessed, most of these test-makersĀ were white men with a certain level of privilege.Ā Ā
Black Americans, Indigenous peoples, immigrants,Ā and people born or raised outside the US haveĀ Ā
been systematically disadvantagedĀ by these tests which have, at times,Ā Ā
served to further marginalize and perpetuateĀ stereotypes of already minoritized groups.
So we have to wonder what IQ tests areĀ really measuring. And these concernsĀ Ā
aren't new - even Binet was cautious toĀ note that intelligence is too complex ofĀ Ā
a thing to be reduced to a number,Ā and that it can change over time.
Bottom line: IQ tests are flawed. Big time.
Does that mean what we need is aĀ test with better questions? Well,Ā Ā
itās probably going to take a lot more thanĀ designing questions to measure intelligence.Ā Ā
To understand why, weāll need to lookĀ at some things related to intelligence.
One reason why measuring intelligence is difficultĀ is because researchers can really only measure howĀ Ā
people show their intelligence. AndĀ thatās often done through language.
Language is just a system of sociallyĀ shared symbols that can be written,Ā Ā
spoken, or physically expressed, as inĀ languages like American Sign Language.
Language requires common rules, called grammar,Ā which dictates how we can express ourselves andĀ Ā
even what we think. Like in Hopi, an IndigenousĀ language from whatās now the Southwestern US,Ā Ā
events that occur in the past orĀ future are given spatial terms.
Basically, instead of addingĀ ā-edā to the end of a word,Ā Ā
a Hopi speaker would say that theĀ event occurred at a great distanceĀ Ā
away from them. This is very differentĀ from how time is communicated in English!
So languages can work in differentĀ ways, and that means intelligence canĀ Ā
be expressed in different ways, and itĀ can be hard to decide what to look for.
But even when people share a common language,Ā testing intelligence is hard because peopleāsĀ Ā
ability to use language can vary. WeĀ often associate a large vocabulary withĀ Ā
intelligence. But someone with a more modestĀ vocabulary can also express their intelligenceĀ Ā
through language. Their intelligence mightĀ just be expressed differently, like withĀ Ā
code-switching. Thatās when a person changesĀ the way they speak depending on the situation,Ā Ā
maybe by using a different tone, differentĀ words, or even an entirely different language.Ā Ā
Like how I might use a more serious toneĀ if Iām negotiating with a car salesman.
Changing the way we speak is intelligenceĀ in action. Code-switching shows thatĀ Ā
we understand the context weāre in andĀ reasoning about how we should communicateĀ Ā
in that context. And thatās something anĀ intelligence test canāt easily capture.
Behaviors like code-switching sit at theĀ intersection of language and cognition,Ā Ā
which is the mental process of knowing,Ā which can involve abilities ranging fromĀ Ā
attention to reasoning. And cognition isĀ crucial to our intelligence, because ourĀ Ā
ways of knowing about the world feed into ourĀ understanding and reasoning about the world.
We can see that with code-switching.Ā We adjust our language based on whatĀ Ā
we know about the context, like theĀ kind of person weāre talking with.
Our response to context often usesĀ schemas. A schema is our basic ideaĀ Ā
about a thing ā a simplified conceptĀ of that thing. So at a car dealership,Ā Ā
I might have a ācar salesmanā schema,Ā which is like a mental template orĀ Ā
a set of assumptions for what a carĀ salesman is like and how they behave.
Categories of people are just one kind ofĀ schema. And we have schemas for basicallyĀ Ā
everything we use to imagine the world,Ā especially social norms: like no talkingĀ Ā
during movies because I am paying too muchĀ to be there already, and I will shush you!.
Schemas also feed into decision making,Ā which is another aspect of cognition.Ā Ā
While we might like to think that weĀ make decisions in a purely rational way,Ā Ā
the human mind is often limited by ourĀ schemas and other aspects of cognition.
This is called bounded rationality,Ā the idea that our decision-makingĀ Ā
is not perfectly logical because ofĀ limitations. Like the accuracy of ourĀ Ā
schemas, the amount of informationĀ available, and time constraints.
But even if theyāre not completely logical,Ā there are a few strategies we can use toĀ Ā
make decisions. And we can explore some ofĀ them through everyoneās favorite classā¦ gym.
Letās pretend youāre in fourth grade.Ā Youāre captain of the kickball teamĀ Ā
and you want to put together the very best team.
You could use a single-feature strategy and pickĀ one criteria to make decisions. For kickball,Ā Ā
that one criteria might be legĀ length. Maybe people with longĀ Ā
legs can really knock thatĀ ball far out into the field.
Or you could use an additive strategy. Thatās whenĀ we think of multiple important aspects, and scoreĀ Ā
each option using these aspects. Then, we chooseĀ the option or options with the highest score.
For kickball, you might consider 3Ā aspects: athletic ability, teamwork,Ā Ā
and gym clothes that alsoĀ have yellow and blue ā I mean,Ā Ā
youāll for sure perform betterĀ if your team has color harmony!
Then youād do a quick ranking of allĀ your classmates with these criteriaĀ Ā
to pick team members. That might meanĀ picking a classmate in a blue t-shirtĀ Ā
who is pretty good at sports andĀ teamwork, and also picking someoneĀ Ā
who is OK at athletics but really good atĀ teamwork, even though sheās wearing green.
Then thereās a strategy thatās sort of theĀ opposite: elimination by aspects. This isĀ Ā
when you think of an aspect thatās critical, andĀ then eliminate all options that donāt have thisĀ Ā
aspect. Using this strategy, you can eliminateĀ all the kids who just donāt like kickball.
We also have heuristics, which are mentalĀ shortcuts we use in decision-making.Ā Ā
Heuristics are interesting because they varyĀ from person to person. If you associate tallerĀ Ā
people with athleticism, youād probably pickĀ all the tallest classmates for your team.
But heuristics arenāt necessarily true. MaybeĀ your very tall friend isnāt very coordinated andĀ Ā
strikes out in the first inning. Thanks, Andrea,Ā for cutting my professional kickball career short.
By looking at decision making and otherĀ aspects of cognition, we can betterĀ Ā
understand intelligence and why measuring it isĀ challenging. In order to use our intelligence,Ā Ā
we must use our cognition, and how weĀ use our cognition depends on the context.
If weāre pressed for time, like pickingĀ all the team members for our kickballĀ Ā
team in just 1 minute, we may resortĀ to heuristics that are fast but couldĀ Ā
be inaccurate. Whether weāre in gym class orĀ at work, when we use these mental shortcutsĀ Ā
or other cognitive approaches, our decisionsĀ may not be as perfectly logical as weād like.
And, if our cognition is limited byĀ the situations weāre in, so too is ourĀ Ā
expression of intelligence. But weāre alwaysĀ in some kind of situation, whether itās takingĀ Ā
a test under time pressure or talking withĀ people who have certain expectations of us.
We couldnāt lead the lives weĀ do without our ability to learn,Ā Ā
understand, and use reasoning skills.Ā We use our intelligence every day,Ā Ā
and even after over a centuryĀ of study, it remains mysterious.
But not for lack of trying. And that effort hasĀ expanded our views on intelligence and made themĀ Ā
more inclusive. That allows us to recognize andĀ better value a wide range of mental abilities.
And what would it take to measure thoseĀ abilities? A lot. In TV show terms,Ā Ā
an intelligence test would be like JeopardyĀ crossed with Big Brother and Survivor crossedĀ Ā
with some Iron Chef and The Price is RightĀ and... well, you get the picture. It wouldĀ Ā
be the sort of test none of us would ace.Ā And that says something important aboutĀ Ā
how we can appreciate intelligence. It takesĀ all kinds to make humanity as rich as it is.
If youāre enjoying Study Hall IntroĀ to Psychology and are interested inĀ Ā
taking an online course and earningĀ college credit, go to gostudyhall.comĀ Ā
or click on this button to learn more.Ā Thanks for watching, see you next time!
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