The Multiple Theory of Intelligences (Book Summary)

When you hear the word "Intelligence" what pops into your mind? is it being good in maths and science or scoring high on an IQ test? and if you are bad in maths but brilliant in art or language...does that make you any less intelligent?

In a book called Frame Of Minds: The Theory Of Multiple Intelligence(s), Howard Gardener argues that the traditional idea of IQ and ways of measuring intelligence are too limiting and they do not reflect all the different smarts and talents people have. Howard proposes that there are actually 8 types of intelligence(s) and understanding these can help us understand ourselves and learn better 

 

What are these 8 types of Intelligence(s)?

1. Logical-Mathematical intelligence 

This what is generally accepted as intelligence, People with this type of intelligence are good at things that deal with logic and reasoning, They are more drawn towards things that involve strategizing and problem-solving, They often excel at maths and working with numbers   

   

2. Linguistic intelligence

This refers to ones ability to think in words and use words to make oneself understood. People with high linguistic intelligence are very good at putting their thoughts into words in order to make others understand them. People with this type of intelligence are often drawn to activities such as reading, writing and sometimes public speaking.Anything pertaining words comes easy to them,

2. Musical intelligence

People with this type of intelligence are more sensitive to sound and often pick up on noises others wouldn't be aware of, They have an excellent sense of rhythm and the ability to recognise tone and pitch. They are often drawn to music-related things. Just like that group in High School that always sings during break time.

3. Bodily-Kinaesthetic intelligence

People with high bodily intellect often have great mind-body coordination and excellent motor skills, Sometimes for them to truly understand something they need to have a feel or touch of it 

(bodily sensation). They are often interested in activities like Dance, Martial Art Sport and even medicine. They use their bodies to solve problems and create meaningful things.

4. Spatial Intelligence ("Picture Smart")

This type of intelligence involves the ability to visualize things or need to visualize things before fully grasping them, People with spatial intelligence are generally very creative and have a vivid imagination, High artistic abilities and visual reasoning. These people are usually found in  professions related to designing and modelling, drawing and architecture

5. Naturalistic intelligence

This intelligence describes people who are sensitive to the natural world, They feel completely at home with nature and love interacting with animals. They enjoy being outside, nurturing and exploring  the environment, These people may enjoy farming, working with animals or as environmentalist 

13. Interpersonal intelligence ("People Smart")

People with this high level of interpersonal intelligence = are often good at reading verbal and non-verbal cues in social settings. They feel empathy easily. Often this type of intelligence can be found in Social workers, life coaches and teachers.

8. Intra-personal Intelligence ("Self Smart ")

This one refers to an understanding of oneself, their thoughts, feelings, emotions and the human conditions as a whole, despite their deep understanding they are often introverted and maybe philosophers, spiritual leaders and writers.

How knowing your intelligence can help you?

The multiple intelligence theory represents: How we perceive and understand things, They are our natural nodes of processing the world around us.

knowing the type of intelligence(s) you possesses helps you find your learning style by taking advantage of your natural strengths and weaknesses.

So for example :

1. A person who is "weak logical-Mathematically" and *strong spatially* will be more likely to develop an understanding of mathematics if it's introduced in a visual manner, If they are shown a visual representation of the concept rather then the being told in an abstract manner and tackle problems through visual reasoning.

2. A person who is "weak musically" and strong logically-mathematical can develop their music skills if it's introduced as logical sequences or introduced as a science through understanding sound waves and thus can 'hopefully' mimick certain rhythms

What is important is to know the type of intelligence(s)  you have, This can help you maximise your natural advantages and highlights areas you may need to work hard on.

It's worth to mention that people possess a set of intelligences-not just one type but a mix of all in different levels. While some other types of intelligences are generally more recognised and more valued the reality is no one type of intelligence is better than the other. They are all unique ways we process information, our unique talents and skills that can be grown over time