The Multiple Intelligences: Where Do You Stand?
Marquese Lewis 
Believe it or not, even if you are not an academic genius, you are uniquely gifted.
Believe it or not, even if you are not an academic genius, you are uniquely gifted. According to the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, the way we learn is highly affected by certain intellectual strengths. Read this to discover your intelligence now.
Usually, when we hear “intelligence,” we think about a person’s intellectual capacity for academic reasoning. We have grown up with the concept that intelligence is something we were born with and something measurable by test scores and different types of psychological assessments.
We have become familiar with the three broad categories of how people learn: visual learning, auditory learning, and kinesthetic learning.
However, many theories on intelligence and the human mind began to surface in recent years suggesting that there is more to our methods of mental processing. One of the most popular is the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Howard Gardner outlined the Theory of Multiple Intelligences in 1983 in his book Frames of the Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences.
Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory proposed that, unlike the traditional views of intelligence, people do not possess all the intelligence they will have in their lives when they are born. For example, a person may have no “inborn talent” as a musician, and no genetic musical talent passed down from his family. Still, as the person strives, they may possess musical intelligence someday. This theory further implies that no single type of intelligence (also known as ‘g’ in psychometrics) focuses on cognitive abilities.
The theory initially proposed six types of intelligence. Today, there are nine different types of intelligence, and the possibility of expanding the list is also being proposed. The types of intelligence are as follows:
1. Visual-spatial Intelligence
These are people with good visualization skills. They read and write for leisure, are good at putting puzzles together, and interpreting pictures, graphs, and charts. Aside from this, they enjoy visual arts like drawings and paintings, and they recognize patterns fast.
2. Linguistic-verbal Intelligence
They have a knack for words. They communicate very well, both orally and in writing. They are usually very good at crafting stories, memorizing data and information, and reading. In addition to their skills in reading and writing, they excel at debates and giving persuasive speeches. They are good at explaining things, and they often use humor as they tell stories.
3. Logical-mathematical Intelligence
These people excel at reasoning, recognizing patterns, and analyzing problems logically. They enjoy thinking of abstract ideas and find satisfaction in conducting scientific experiments. Because of their high intelligence in this area, they are usually the ones who can solve complex computations.
4. Bodily-kinesthetic Intelligence
People with high bodily-kinesthetic intelligence are good at performing actions with their body, and have great physical control, and body movements. Those who are strong in this area are typically good at hand-eye coordination and possess dexterity and are usually skilled at sports and dancing. Moreover, they also enjoy creating with their hands, and they tend to remember information by doing rather than reading or listening.
5. Musical Intelligence
Persons who have excellent musical intelligence think in rhythm and sounds. They have a high appreciation for music and are generally good at performance and musical composition. They typically enjoy singing and playing instruments, quickly recognizing tones and patterns. They do not have a hard time remembering tones and melodies, and they tend to have a rich understanding of the musical structure, notes, and rhythm.
6. Interpersonal Intelligence
People who have vital interpersonal intelligence excel at understanding and interacting with people. They are skilled at assessing the emotions, desires, motivations, and intentions of those around them. They communicate well verbally, and they know how to weigh situations from a different perspective. They are good at creating positive relationships with others, and they can resolve conflicts in a group setting.
7. Intrapersonal Intelligence
These individuals are good at recognizing their own emotional states, emotions, and feelings. They enjoy internal analysis and self-reflection like exploring relationships, daydreaming, and understanding their strengths. They have excellent self-awareness, and they know the basis of their feelings and motivations.
8. Naturalistic Intelligence
This is one of the most recent additions to the original multiple intelligences theory. People who possess solid naturalistic intelligence are more in tune with nature and are, more often than not, interested in nurturing living things, exploring the environment, and learning about other species. They typically enjoy camping, hiking, gardening, and exploring the outdoors.
9. Existential intelligence
This is the newest intelligence in Howard’s theory. These are people who are interested in learning about the meaning of life, why death exists, and life after death. They have a sensitivity to tackling deep questions about human existence.
Criticism
Despite its popularity, Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences has its share of criticisms. Psychology and education experts pointed out the lack of empirical research on the multiple intelligences and their pragmatic use in the classroom setting. The critics also argued that the theory is too broad. The nine multiple intelligences might merely mean talents, personality traits, and preferences rather than a measure of a person’s intelligence. Despite the criticisms, many educators and institutions now incorporate the theory of multiple intelligences in instruction, assessments, and enrichment of learning.
Summary
Howard Gardner suggests that educators should not be bound by one specific theory or innovation when planning the curriculum. Instead, he encourages education advocates to customize goals and values appropriate for their students and clientele to better uphold the standard of learning. Similarly, you should seek to identify which method of learning best resonates with you. In the case of Gardner's theory, there may be one or many bits and intelligence that align with your talents and motivations. In either case, knowing your intelligence can help you to identify not only your talents and learning style but also which occupation you would be best suited for. Understanding this aspect of yourself is necessary to find your purpose, set and achieve your goals, and live a fruitful life.
Find out how to use Garner’s theory and apply it to your future career in the Self Awareness Course.
Categories: Self Awareness