What Is Meant by Multiple Intelligence?

What is meant by multiple intelligence?
The generally accepted view of intelligence is that it is about cognitive or mental ability. Charles Spearman, one of the early pioneers in thinking about intelligence called it the ‘g’ factor, and intelligence tests have been designed to measure it.

However, few people now believe that intelligence is a concept that can be described in such simple terms, and some have sought to explore our understanding of intelligence more fully.

The best known and by far the most influential theory is that of ‘multiple intelligence’ as set out by a Harvard University Professor, Howard Gardner, in 1983. He defined multiple intelligence as a set of abilities, talents or mental skills that all individuals possess to a greater or lesser extent. Gardner identified seven different kinds of intelligence. (He has since considered the existence and definitions of other possible intelligences in his later work.) He argued that individuals differ only in the level of their skills and how these intelligences combine.

Gardner’s multiple intelligences
Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences can be summarised as follows:

Linguistic Intelligence (word smart) refers to the ability to use words and language, both written and spoken. Such learners have highly developed auditory skills and are fluent speakers. They think in words rather than pictures. Their skills include listening, speaking, writing, story telling, explaining and teaching.

Logical Intelligence (logic smart) refers to the ability to reason, apply logic and work with numbers. Such learners think conceptually in logical and numerical patterns, making connections between pieces of information. Their skills include problem solving, classifying and categorising information, thinking logically, questioning, carrying out investigations, performing mathematical calculations and working with geometric shapes.

Visual-spatial Intelligence (picture smart) refers to the ability to perceive the visual. Such learners tend to think in pictures and need to create vivid mental images to retain information. Their skills include understanding charts and graphs, sketching, painting, creating visual images and constructing, fixing, and designing practical objects.

Musical Intelligence (music smart) refers to the ability to produce and appreciate music. These musically inclined learners think in sounds, rhythms and patterns. They immediately respond to music either appreciating or criticising what they hear. Their skills include singing, playing musical instruments, recognising sounds and tonal patterns, composing music and remembering melodies.

Bodily Kinaesthetic Intelligence (body smart) refers to the ability to control body movements and handle objects skilfully. Such learners express themselves best through movement. They have a good sense of balance and hand-eye coordination. Through interacting with the space around them, they are able to remember and process information. Their skills include dancing, physical coordination, sports, crafts, acting, miming and using their hands to create or build.

Interpersonal Intelligence (people smart) refers to the ability to relate to and understand other people. These learners are able to sense feelings, intentions and motivations and are adept at recognising non-verbal language, for example body language. Their skills include seeing things from other perspectives, listening, using empathy, understanding other people's moods and feelings and communicating both verbally and non-verbally.

Intrapersonal Intelligence (self smart) refers to the ability to understand ourselves, who we are, and what makes us the way that we are. Such learners are able to recognise their own strengths and weaknesses and have a capacity for self-analysis, awareness of their inner feelings, desires and dreams, evaluating their thinking patterns and reasoning with themselves.

According to Gardner, all individuals possess each of these intelligences to some extent, although individuals will differ in the degree of skills and in the nature of their combination. Gardner stresses that it is the interaction between the different intelligences that is fundamental to the workings of the mind and that in the normal course of events, the intelligences actually interact with, and build upon, one another. Howard Gardner later proposed an eighth intelligence, ‘naturalistic’.

The main messages arising from Gardner’s model are set out below.

We are all born with a unique mix of all eight intelligences.

Intelligences combine in complex ways.

There are many ways to be intelligent within each category.

Most people can develop each intelligence to an adequate level of competency.

Schools tend to focus mainly on two intelligences, those associated with academic intelligence, that is, linguistic and logical/mathematical.

The school curriculum should be better balanced in order to reflect a wider range of intelligences.