The 5 hierarchical theories of intelligence

These ways of understanding the mind establish various divisions between useful cognitive abilities.

Intelligence has long been a frequent object of study within psychology, especially in basic and differential psychology. within psychology, especially with regard to basic and differential psychology. This concept refers to the human being's ability to adapt to the environment successfully and efficiently by being able to use available cognitive resources to establish action plans, grasp the relationships between different stimuli, reasoning and logic, reasoning and managing behavior.

There are a large number of theories and conceptualizations regarding what intelligence is or how it is structured, a variety in which it has gone from being a single and general capacity to a set of relatively independent capacities. One of these conceptualizations is that of hierarchical theories of intelligence.

The hierarchical theories of intelligence.

They are known as hierarchical theories of intelligence those that are based on the conception that intelligence is made up of a set of dependent abilities, which are dependent which establish a hierarchy among themselves in which an order is established according to which each factor encompasses several subfactors.

It is a type of theory based on a a type of theory based on a factorial model in which there are and in which there are capabilities that dominate and allow the existence of others. For example, based on one of the models (specifically Vernon's model) we can consider that the ability to write comes from the linguistic ability, which in turn is part of and depends on the verbal ability, which together with motor skills is part of general intelligence.

In this way we would have very specific skills that would be in charge of specific behaviors or of governing specific parts of them, and in turn these skills would depend on a higher order cognitive skill or factor. would depend on a cognitive ability or higher-order factor that encompasses a whole set of these abilities. that encompasses a whole set of these skills. In turn, this and other abilities of the same sublevel would depend on another that influences all of them, and so on.

Main hierarchical models

There are different models derived from the hierarchical theories of intelligence, which have established differentThese have established different ways of interpreting the hierarchical arrangement between factors or even the type of factors involved. The following are the best known and most relevant hierarchical theories.

1. Burt's model: Hierarchical model of mental levels.

The model elaborated by Cyrill Burt focuses on the proposal of the existence of a structure formed by four primary factors and a general intelligence that subsumes them. four primary factors and a general intelligence that subsumes them.This structure is organized in five levels, ranging from the capture of stimuli to their processing and linkage with other cognitive elements.

Specifically, level one is that of sensation, which includes the different sensory and motor capacities available to us. This is the most basic and simple level. Subsequently, at level two, or perception, Burt incorporates the set of processes that the passage to cognition of the captured information, as well as the ability to coordinateas well as the ability to coordinate movement.

Level three encompasses the capacities of association, such as recognition, memory or habit.Then, at level four or relational level, we find the different processes that allow coordinating and managing the different mental processes.

Finally, at the fifth level we find general intelligence, which allows, influences and encompasses the previous levels.

2. Vernon's hierarchical factorial model

One of the best known hierarchical models is that of P.E. Vernon, who established the existence of a general intelligence from which emerged the educational-verbal and motor factors. the educational-verbal and motor-spatial factorsfrom which in turn emerged skills such as fluency, numerical, linguistic, creative, mechanical, spatial, psychomotor and induction abilities.

However, the most important aspect of this model is the fact that Vernon would indicate the existence of three types of intelligence according to the level of development of the Biological potential in reality. He would name as intelligence A the biological potential of the person as regards its capacity to develop and adapt to the environment, as intelligence B to the level of ability demonstrated behaviorally in reality and as intelligence C to that extractable as objective proof of intelligence B extracted in intelligence tests.

3. Gustafsson's HILI model

The model developed by Gustafsson is called the HILI model. This model includes and integrates aspects of Vernon and CattellIt is based on a three-level structure in which at the simplest or lowest level are the primary skills such as rational ability, verbal fluency or memory, while at the intermediate level are the factors of fluid intelligence, crystallized, visual, resilience and cognitive speed, and finally a higher level in which general intelligence is found.

4. Guttman's Radex Model

Another of the hierarchical theories of intelligence is that of Louis Guttman, who proposed a model in which the factors obtained in different psychometric tests were ordered and organized into sections according to similarity in complexity and content.

He established a hierarchy in the form of concentric circles with three main factors, which are visual-spatial ability, verbal ability and verbal ability. visual-spatial ability, verbal ability and quantitative-numerical ability.. From there it establishes the level of closeness of the different tests to the G factor of intelligence, the central and hierarchically highest point.

5. Carroll's strata model

This model divides cognitive abilities into three interrelated strata, the first being the most concrete and the third the most general.

In the first layer Carroll establishes concrete skills such as induction, visual memory, musical discrimination, writing or perceptual speed. induction, visual memory, musical discrimination, writing and perceptual speed.. These are a total of twenty specific factors necessary for the performance of various actions both mentally and behaviorally.

The second of the strata includes eight more general and broad factors in which those of the previous stratum are included. They include fluid intelligence, crystallized intelligence, memory and learning, visual perception, auditory perception, resilience, cognitive speed and processing speed.

Finally, the third layer refers to general intelligence, from which all the previous processes and capacities are derived.

And a mixed model: Cattell and Horn's model.

Cattell's model, in which he divided intelligence into fluid and crystallized intelligence, is widely known worldwide. However, this model was this model was later extended with the collaboration of John Horn, resulting in one of the hierarchical models or theories of intelligence.This collaboration resulted in one of the hierarchical models or theories of intelligence.

Three levels can be observed in this model. In the first order factors we find the primary aptitudes (taken from Thurstone and Guilford), which are encompassed by the second order factors.

Finally, the third order factors are historical fluid intelligence (from which secondary factors arise such as fluid intelligence as an element that allows the making of linkages between elements through induction or deductionvisual intelligence, resilience and cognitive speed). In addition to this, alongside historical fluid intelligence is the common learning factor, which involves crystallized intelligence.

Bibliographical references:

• Amor, P.J. and Sánchez-Elvira. A. (2005). Introduction to the study of individual differences. 2nd Edition. Sanz y Torres: Madrid.

• Maureira, F. (2017). what is intelligence. Bubok Publishing S.L. Spain.