4.1: Your Multiple Intelligences
The traditional view of intelligence consists of abilities or skills in two areas - logic and language - which do not change over a lifetime. About thirty years ago, a more modern view of intelligence began to replace that traditional view. In 1983 Howard Gardner proposed his theory of multiple intelligences in the book Frames of the Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences . Gardner proposed that there are seven possible intelligences—linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, visual-spatial, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. Gardner added three more intelligences to his list—naturalist, spiritual and existential—in his 1999 book Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligence for the 21st Century (Kidd et al, 2021).
Multiple Intelligences Defined
Linguistic intelligence is the ability to learn languages, use language to express what is on one’s mind and to understand people. Those who have high linguistic intelligence are well-developed in verbal skills and have sensitivity to sounds, meanings and rhythms of words (Hampton, 2008). These people enjoy reading various kinds of literature, playing word games, making up poetry and stories, and getting into involved discussions with other people (Hampton, 2008). Examples of people with high linguistic ability include poets, writers, public speakers, TV and radio newscasters, and journalists.
Logical-Mathematical intelligence is the ability to detect patterns, reason deductively, and think logically. Those who are “math smart” have the capacity to analyze problems logically, carry out mathematical operations and investigate scientifically (Smith, 2008). Those with high Logical-Mathematical intelligence are highly capable of thinking conceptually and abstractly (Hampton, 2008). This kind of intelligence is often associated with scientific and mathematical thinking (Hampton, 2008). Careers in which “math smart” people tend to be employed include computer technicians and programmers, accountants, poll takers, medical professionals, and math teachers (Smith, 2008).
Musical Intelligence is “the capacity to think in music, to be able to hear patterns, recognize them, and manipulate them” (Hampton, 2008). Those who are musically intelligent learn through sounds, rhythms, tones, beats, music produced by other people or present in the environment,” according to Gardner (Hampton, 2008). Musically intelligent people also have the ability to perform, compose, and appreciate music and music patterns (Smith, 2008). Jobs in which musical intelligence is a desired aptitude include advertising, music studio directors and recorders, singers and songwriters, conductors, and music teachers (Hampton, 2008).
Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence is defined as “having the potential of using one’s whole body or parts of the body to solve problems” (Smith, 2008). Those with high kinesthetic intelligence communicate well through body language and like to be taught through physical activity, hands-on learning, acting out, and role playing (Lane, n.d.). These people have a keen sense of body awareness and have the ability to use mental abilities to coordinate bodily movements (Smith, 2008). Gymnasts, physical therapists, mechanics, athletes, builders, dancers, doctors, surgeons, nurses, and crafts persons tend to be highly kinesthetic.
Spatial intelligence “involves the potential to recognize and use patterns of wide space and more confined areas” according to Gardner (Smith, 2008), as well as “the ability to manipulate and mentally rotate objects” (Thompson, 1999). Graphic artists, architects, and mapmakers tend to be highly spatially intelligent. These people are very aware of their environments.
Interpersonal intelligence is the capacity to understand the intentions, motivations, and desires of other people (Smith, 2008). These people are “people smart” and work well with others. “[People with high interpersonal intelligence] probably have a lot of friends, show a great deal of empathy for other people, and exhibit a deep understanding of other people’s viewpoints,” according to MI Identified (Hampton, 2008). Interpersonally intelligent people learn through personal interactions. Examples of careers utilizing high interpersonal intelligence include educators, salespeople, and religious and political leaders. Interpersonally intelligent people learn through personal interactions.
Intrapersonal intelligence is the capacity to understand oneself, to appreciate one’s feelings, fears and motivations,” according to Gardner. “It involves having an effective working model of ourselves, and to be able to use such information to regulate our lives” according to The Encyclopedia of Informal Education (Smith, 2008). People who possess high intrapersonal intelligence are “self smart.” These people know who they are, what they are capable of doing, how to react to things, what to avoid, and what they gravitate to (Hampton, 2008). Psychologists, philosophers, social workers, and counselors are all examples of “self smart” careers.
Naturalist intelligence is defined as the ability to recognize and categorize plants, animals and other objects in nature (Hampton, 2008). According to EdWeb , “People who are sensitive to changes in weather patterns or are adept at distinguishing nuances between large numbers of similar objects may be expressing naturalist intelligence abilities” (Carvin, n.d.). Naturalist intelligence is the intelligence that presumably helped our ancestors survive—“to decide what to eat and what to run from” (Holmes, 2002). Those with high naturalist intelligence include gardeners, biologists, birdwatchers, florists, horticulturists and more.
Existential intelligence is defined as the ability to be sensitive to, or having the capacity for, conceptualizing or tackling deeper or larger questions about human existence, such as what is the meaning of life? Why are we born? And why do we die (Wilson, 2005)? Existential intelligence is often called the “wondering smart” or the metaphysical intelligence. The clearest definition of existential intelligence defined by Gardner is: “individuals who exhibit the proclivity to pose and ponder questions about life, death, and ultimate realities” (Wilson, 2005). However, Gardner has not fully committed himself to this ninth intelligence despite his book Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligence for the 21st Century in which he first mentions the possible existence of a ninth intelligence.
Spiritual intelligence according to Dr. Cynthia Davis, clinical and corporate psychologist and emotional intelligence business coach, “is the ultimate intelligence in which we address and solve problems of meaning and value, in which we can place our actions and our lives in a wider, richer, meaning-giving context, and the intelligence with which we can assess that one course of action or one life path is more meaningful than another” (Mindwise Pty Ltd, 2004). “Spiritual intelligence is the intelligence that makes us whole, integral and transformative,” according to Danah Zohar, author of Spiritual Capital: Wealth We Can Live By (Spiritual Intelligence and Spiritual Health, 2008). Spiritual intelligence is not necessarily religious or dependent upon religion as a foundation (Mindwise Pty Ltd, 2004). Characteristics of spiritual intelligence include the capacity to face and use suffering, the capacity to face and transcend pain, the capacity to be flexible, actively and spontaneously adaptive, and high self-awareness (Mindwise Pty Ltd, 2004).
Multiple Intelligences Assessment
Step 1: Most of the free assessments available for multiple intelligences focus on the first seven types of intelligence. The assessment at LiteracyWorks assesses the first eight strengths. Go to LiteracyNet Multiple Intelligences Assessment [www.literacynet.org] and find your gifts!
Step 2: List the top three scores from your Multiple Intelligences (Strength) Assessment and evaluate what parts of the description for you top three scores fit you well and add that under description:
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