Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

This conception of mental capacity emphasizes the plurality of actions that denote intelligence.

The cognitive capacity of the human being is one of the aspects most investigated by psychology. The concept of intelligence has varied throughout history, although for the most part it has been considered as the ability to solve problems and adapt efficiently to the environment.

There are theories that consider it as a single general capacity, or as a set of hierarchical capacities subordinated to a basic capacity, while other theorists see this concept as a set of more or less independent capacities that allow us to adapt successfully. One of the existing theories that attempt to explain how intelligence is structured is the triarchic theory of intelligence. the triarchic theory of intelligence by Robert J. Sternberg.

Sternberg's triarchic theory: general concept.

Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence is based on Sternberg's conception that traditional and hierarchical models of intelligence are not exhaustive since they do not account for the use that is made of intelligence itself, limiting themselves to conceptualizing its nature and functioning without observing how it is linked and applied in a real context.

Thus, this theory considers that the measurement of intellectual capacity has focused only on one aspect of intelligence. has focused only on one aspect of intelligence, ignoring other highly relevant aspects of intelligence.ignoring other aspects of great relevance that form cognitive abilities by themselves. In conclusion. Sternberg argues that it is not enough to see what is done, but also how and why, when it comes to acting.

For Sternberg, intelligence is all mental activity that leads to conscious adaptation to the environment. and to the selection or transformation of it with the purpose of predicting results and being able to actively provoke the adequacy of one to the environment or of the environment to one. It is the set of thinking abilities that are used in the resolution of more or less everyday or abstract problems.

This author's conception is close to the vision of intelligence as a set of capacities as a set of capacities rather than a single unitary and unmodifiable element. It is from this idea and the perception that other theories do not establish how intelligence is linked to the real world that the author establishes his theory of triarchic intelligence, whose name is due to the consideration of three types of intelligence.

The three types of intelligence

Sternberg elaborates a theory according to which he considers the existence of three types of intelligence that explain the processing of information at the internal level, the external level and the level of interaction between the two.

In other words, he considers the existence of three basic capacities that determine intellectual capacity. Specifically, he establishes the existence of an analytical intelligence, a practical intelligence and a creative intelligence.

1. Analytical or componential intelligence

For Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence, analytical intelligence involves the capacity to capture, store, modify and work with information.. It is the closest to the unitary conception of intelligence, referring to the ability to establish plans and manage cognitive resources. Thanks to analytical intelligence we can perform mental operations such as defining, making decisions and generating solutions.

In this intelligence we can find the elementary components or processes that allow us to work on the cognitive representations of reality. allow us to work on the cognitive representations of reality, modify them and pass them through aThese components can be divided into metacomponents or control processes that allow to make decisions and mark how to think and act as well as how to act.

These components can be divided into metacomponents or control processes that allow to make decisions and mark how to think and act as well as planning, the components of performance or realization which are implemented from the metacomponents and allow to carry out such plans established by them and the components of acquisition which allow the learning and obtaining of information. allow learning and obtaining information..

2. Practical or contextual intelligence

This type of intelligence refers to the capacity of human beings to adapt to the environment in which they live. In the first place, the organism tries to survive from what already exists in the environment, taking advantage of the opportunities it offers to adapt.

However, if this is not possible, the person must establish other mechanisms to adapt and survive. These other processes are the selection of environment and stimuli in order to improve his situation and/or the molding of the environment in the cases in which it is not possible to change the environment, in this case by making modifications in the environment itself to better adjust its possibilities.

For example, a person who is hungry can select the environment and move to a place where there is an abundance of food or take advantage of elements present in the environment that were not previously part of his diet to feed himself, or he can decide to modify the environment by starting to grow his own food in a garden. It is all about applying cognitive skills for an adaptive purpose.

3. Creative or experiential intelligence

This type of intelligence is considered to be the integration of the information obtained from the outside with our psyche.. In other words, it is that type of ability that allows us to learn from experience. It is also linked to creativity and to the resolution of problems not previously experienced.

In this sense Sternberg notes that the degree of novelty of experiences is of importance. of the experiences and tasks. Ideally, the task should be new to a moderate degree, so that the subject can create and react to new stimuli while at the same time possessing a tool that allows him to cope with them.

Another relevant aspect is automationthat is, the ability to replicate a behavior or knowledge without requiring conscious effort. Repeating tasks several times allows them to be mastered and reduces their level of novelty and the need to pay attention to each basic element that is part of them. The higher the level of automation, the higher the level of resources available to face other tasks successfully.

Bibliographical references:

• Hernangómez, L. and Fernández, C. (2012). Personality and differential psychology. Manual CEDE de Preparación PIR, 07. CEDE: Madrid.

• Martin, M. (2007). Historical and conceptual analysis of the relationship between intelligence and reason. Spain: University of Malaga.

• Sternberg, R. J. (1985). Beyond IQ: A Triarchic Theory of Intelligence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.