Important and valuable The theory of multiple intelligence test

Although most IQ testing only assesses what is termed ‘general ability’ in three categories of intelligence, numerical, verbal and spatial (abstract) reasoning, there are several other equally important and valuable intelligences that need to be recognised and developed. The theory of multiple intelligence (MI) advocates that the traditional view of a single general intelligence,g, is too narrow and that humans have multiple intelligences. By expanding our definition of intelligence to include multiple intelligences, we can identify,
appreciate and nurture more of our strengths. This is important, as it would be as rare for any one individual to be endowed in all the different intelligences as it would for any one individual not to possess some kind of talent. We all tend to be aware of some of our abilities and limitations, for instance, some of us may be great musicians but completely hopeless when it comes to fixing a problem with our car; others may be championship-class chess players but would never be able to smash a tennis ball into the opposing player’s court; and others may possess great linguistic and mathematical skills but feel completely at a loss trying to make small talk at social gatherings. The fact is that no-one is talented in every domain and noone is completely incapable in every domain. The originator of the theory of multiple intelligences, Howard Gardner, a professor of education at Harvard University, defines intelligence as the potential ability to process a certain sort of information. The different types of intelligence are for the most part independent of one another, and no type is more important than the other. Although aspects of it are included in several of the above categories; in addition to the above seven basic types of intelligence can be added creativity, which has sometimes been referred to as ‘the eighth intelligence’. Additionally, if creativity is the eighth intelligence, then memory must be the ninth, and both creativity and memory are explored and tested in detail respectively. Whilst Spearman concluded that people who performed well at varying tasks tended to use the same part of the brain,g,Gardner asserts that each of the above intelligences is located in one or more particular areas of the brain. Some of the evidence for this belief is provided by the study of people who have suffered brain damage, either from strokes or other causes, and who may, for example, still be able to sing words despite having lost the ability to use expressive speech. Although the jury may still be out on the debate as to whether the factor, as gauged by IQ tests, is just one single general intelligence, or whether there are, as Gardner and others suggest, a set of independent mental domains, it would appear to be coming increasingly apparent that, as we learn more about the human brain and how different parts of the brain appear to generate different intelligence, the more compelling Gardner’s theory becomes. The main lesson to be learned from this is that people can be intelligent in many different ways. It is completely wrong to write off or even put down someone who has scored badly in an IQ test which, after all, has only provided us with one type of information about that individual. All of us have the potential for achievement in some kind of intelligence and we also possess the potential for improvement in many other areas. Although there are types of intelligence that cannot be tested in a book, for example, aptitude at performing physical tasks or playing a musical instrument, in the chapters that follow as many different types of intelligence will be tested and explored as is feasible to do.