Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences proposes eight types of intelligence.

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences was devised by the American psychologist Howard Gardner as a counterweight to the paradigm of a single intelligence.

Gardner proposed that human life requires the development of several types of intelligence. Thus, Gardner does not contradict the scientific definition of intelligence as the "ability to solve problems or produce valuable goods".

• Recommended article: "Biography of Howard Gardner".

Multiple Intelligences

Howard Gardner and his collaborators of the prestigious Harvard University warned that academic intelligence (the attainment of degrees and educational merits; the academic record) is not a decisive factor to know the intelligence of a person.

A good example of this idea can be seen in people who, despite obtaining excellent academic grades, have significant problems in relating to other people or in managing other facets of their lives. Gardner and his collaborators could affirm that Stephen Hawking does not possess a higher intelligence than Leo Messibut that each of them has developed a different type of intelligence.

On the other hand, Howard Gardner points out that there are clear cases in which people have extremely developed cognitive abilities, and others very poorly developed: this is the case of savants. An example of a savant was Kim Peek, who, although he generally had little ability to reason, was able to memorize maps and entire books, in practically all their details.

These exceptional cases made Gardner think that intelligence does not exist, but that in reality there are many independent intelligences.

Multiple intelligences: 8 types of intelligence

Howard Gardner's research has succeeded in identifying and defining up to eight different types of intelligence. Let's get to know in more detail each of the intelligences proposed by Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences below.

► Linguistic intelligence.

The ability to master the language and to be able to communicate with others is transversal to all cultures. From a young age we learn to use our mother tongue to be able to communicate effectively.

The linguistic intelligence not only refers to the ability to communicate orally, but also to other ways of communicating such as writing, gestures, etc.

Those who better master this ability to communicate have a superior linguistic intelligence. Professions in which this type of intelligence stands out include politicians, writers, poets, journalists, actors?

How to improve linguistic intelligence?

If you want to know more about verbal intelligence and how to progress in this area, we invite you to read the following article:

• "Linguistic intelligence: what is it and how can it be improved?"

► Logical-mathematical intelligence.

For decades, the logical-mathematical intelligence was considered the raw intelligence. It represented the main axis of the concept of intelligence, and was used as a yardstick to detect how intelligent a person was.

As its name suggests, this type of intelligence is linked to the capacity for logical reasoning. the capacity for logical reasoning and the resolution of mathematical problems.. The speed of solving this type of problems is the indicator that determines how much logical-mathematical intelligence one has.

The famous intelligence quotient (IQ) tests (IQ) tests are based on this type of intelligence and, to a lesser extent, on linguistic intelligence. The scientists, economists, academics, engineers and mathematicians tend to Excel in this and mathematicians tend to excel in this type of intelligence. Likewise, chess players also require logical ability to develop better game strategies than their opponents and to anticipate their moves.

Is it possible to improve logical-mathematical intelligence?

Of course it is. We explain everything you need to know about this type of intelligence and the keys to improve it here:

• Logical-mathematical intelligence: what is it and how can we improve it?"

► Spatial intelligence

Also known as visual-spatial intelligence, it is the ability that allows us to. observe the world and objects from different perspectives. In this intelligence, chess players and visual arts professionals (painters, designers, sculptors...) stand out, as well as cab drivers, who must possess an exquisite mental map of the cities they travel through.

People who excel in this type of intelligence usually have capacities that allow them to devise mental images, draw and detect details, as well as a personal sense for aesthetics. In this intelligence we find painters, photographers, designers, advertisers, architects, creatives...

How can we increase our spatial intelligence?

It is a skill that can be improved. Here you have all the information:

• "Spatial intelligence: what is it and how can it be improved?"

► Musical intelligence

Music is a universal art. All cultures have some kind of music, more or less elaborated, which leads Gardner and his collaborators to understand that there is a musical intelligence latent in all people.

Some areas of the brain perform functions related to the interpretation and composition of music. Like any other type of intelligence, it can be trained and perfected.

It goes without saying that the most advantaged in this kind of intelligence are those able to play instruments, read and compose musical pieces with ease.

► Bodily and kinesthetic intelligence.

The bodily and motor skills required to handle tools or to express certain emotions represent an essential aspect in the development of all cultures throughout history.

The ability to use tools is considered kinesthetic body intelligence. On the other hand, there are often more intuitive abilities such as the use of bodily intelligence to express feelings through the body.

Especially brilliant in this type of intelligence are dancers, actors, athletes, and even plastic surgeons and creators, actors, sportsmen, and even plastic surgeons and creators, as they all have to employThey all have to use their physical abilities rationally.

► Intrapersonal intelligence

The intrapersonal intelligence refers to the intelligence that enables us to understand and control our inner self in terms of regulating our emotions and attentional focus.

People who excel in intrapersonal intelligence are able to access their feelings and emotions and reflect on these elements.. According to Gardner, this intelligence also allows you to delve into your introspection and understand the reasons why you are the way you are.

On the other hand, both knowing how to distance oneself from the situation to de-dramatize events with a negative emotional impact and knowing how to identify one's own thinking biases are very useful tools both to maintain a good level of well-being and to perform better in different aspects of life.

How to improve this type of intelligence?

There are several ways to know oneself better. We have summarized them for you in this article:

• "Intrapersonal intelligence: what is it and how can it be improved?

► Interpersonal intelligence

The interpersonal intelligence enables us to notice things about other people beyond what our senses are able to grasp. It is an intelligence that allows us to interpret words or gestures, or the objectives and goals of each discourse. Beyond the Introversion-Extraversion continuum, interpersonal intelligence assesses the ability to empathize with others.

It is a very valuable intelligence for people who work with large groups. Its ability to detect and understand other people's circumstances and problems is easier if it is is easier if you possess (and develop) interpersonal intelligence. Teachers, psychologists, therapists, lawyers and pedagogues are profiles that usually score very high in this type of intelligence described in the Theory of Multiple Intelligences.

More about interpersonal intelligence and how to improve it.

We explain how to enhance these empathy and communication skills here:

• "Interpersonal intelligence: definition and tips to improve it."

► Naturalistic intelligence

According to Gardner, the naturalistic intelligence allows detecting, differentiating and categorizing aspects linked to the environment, such as animal and plant species or phenomena related to climate, geography or natural phenomena.

This type of intelligence was added later to Gardner's original study on Multiple Intelligences, specifically in 1995. Gardner considered it necessary to include this category because it was one of the essential intelligences for the one of the essential intelligences for the survival of the human being (or any other species) and that (or any other species) and which has resulted in evolution.

It should be noted that although for Gardner this type of intelligence was developed to facilitate the creative use of the resources provided by nature, its use is currently not only limited to environments in which there are no human constructions, but the latter could also be "explored" in the same way.

In detail

You can learn more about the eighth type of intelligence in this post:

• "Naturalistic intelligence: what is it?"

In context

Gardner states that all people are owners of each of the eight kinds of intelligence, although each one excels more in some than in others.although each person excels more in some than in others, with none of the eight being more important or valuable than the others. Generally, mastery of most of them is required to cope with life, regardless of profession. In the end, most jobs require the use of most types of intelligence.

The education taught in the classroom strives to offer contents and procedures focused on evaluating the first two types of intelligence: linguistic and logical-mathematical. However, this is totally insufficient in the project of educating students to their full potential. The need for a change in the educational paradigm was brought to debate thanks to the Theory of Multiple Intelligences proposed by Howard Gardner.

On the other hand, Howard Gardner has pointed out that what is important in his theory are not the 8 intelligences he proposes, but rather the conceptualization of human cognition as parallel processes that are relatively independent of each other. from one another. Therefore, he has pointed out several times that possibly the multiple intelligences are not the ones he proposed, but others that he has not taken into account or that he groups under the name of a single intelligence.

Report on Howard Gardner on Multiple Intelligences

If you want to go deeper into the Theory of Multiple Intelligences and into the reasoning and evidence of its main author, Howard Gardner, we strongly recommend you to watch this chapter of the program on neurosciences and psychology Networks.

Bibliographical references:

• Gardner, Howard (1998). "A Reply to Perry D. Klein's 'Multiplying the problems of intelligence by eight'". Canadian Journal of Education 23 (1): 96–102. doi:10.2307/1585968. JSTOR 1585790.
• Scarr, S. (1985). "An authors frame of mind [Review of Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences]". New Ideas in Psychology 3 (1): 95–100. doi:10.1016/0732-118X(85)90056-X.
• Triglia, Adrián; Regader, Bertrand; y García-Allen, Jonathan (2018). "¿Qué es la inteligencia? Del CI a las inteligencias múltiples". EMSE Publishing.