http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-9-types-of-intelligence.html
The 9 Types of Intelligence
One of the smartest people I know can’t spell worth beans (or, benes as I am pretty sure she would write) and has a particular way of pronouncing foreign-based words (sorbet is soibert; café au lait is coffee oh loddy). Meanwhile, my friend who can speak five languages is entirely flummoxed when it comes time to calculate the tip for a waiter.
So what’s going on with these two brainiacs—am I, simply, surrounded by idiot savants? Not according to Dr. Howard Gardener who developed the theory of multiple intelligences, going beyond the IQ test to discover the many ways humans are smart. He identified intelligent abilities including language, music, spatial reference, kinesthesia, naturalistic, and possibly existential intelligence. Gardner’s definitions include ways to improve your weaker areas—strengthening your brain. Learning—even about learning—reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s says the American Academy of Neurology.
These are Gardner’s nine types of intelligence, as described in A Better Brain at Any Age (Conari, 2009) by Sondra Kornblatt.:
1. Linguistic intelligence reflects the ability to read, write, tell stories, and learn languages, grammar, and syntax. Strengthen this ability by studying a new language, improving vocabulary, and writing.
2. Your friendly computer programmer has logical-mathematical intelligence. She’s comfortable with numbers, logic, reasoning, and abstractions. To increase logical ability, get a book of logic games, knit a sweater, and learn computer programming. Or watch a movie on video, and stop it to predict what will happen.
3. Those with strong musical intelligence are sensitive to sounds, tones, rhythms, pitch, musical keys, and structure of the songs (from verse and chorus to symphonies). Borrow different types of music CDs, sing with the radio, be quiet and listen to the sounds around you.
4. Those with strong spatial intelligence can imagine, understand, and represent the visual-spatial world. They may have a good sense of direction, hand-eye coordination, and visual memory. Some people, for instance, can visualize how furniture fits in a room without measurements, or buy a scarf that matches the blue in a blouse at home (perfect “chromatic pitch.”) To strengthen your spatial intelligence, be a backseat driver and provide directions for a trip, fit the groceries in the bag or the car, play with jigsaw puzzles and mazes, build some Lego’s, or sculpt some clay.
5. Remember Gene Kelly performing “Gotta Dance!” in Singing in the Rain? He had bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, as do athletes, builders, actors, or surgeons (if they have fine motor skills). Yoga is a great way to increase this ability. Make crafts or build, ride a bike, dance, and learn tai chi or other sports.
6. Someone with interpersonal intelligence is good at organizing people and is aware of moods and motivations. He or she can communicate and lead well. To get more people skills, practice active listening—that is, repeat back what you think someone said. Learn about the types of personalities with the Myers-Briggs test (psychological preferences such as extraversion and introversion) or the Enneagram (a theory of nine personality types—possibly centuries old).
7. Intrapersonal intelligence is the ability to be self-aware and explore emotions, goals and motivations. This perspective on the human condition is used by writers, philosophers, psychologists, and theologians. To improve your intrapersonal intelligence, “know thyself”—write in a journal, meditate, try the personality tests mentioned above.
8. Individuals with green thumbs and “horse whisperers” have naturalistic intelligence. They are sensitive to nature and may easily recognize and classify species. To get more naturalistic intelligence, expose yourself to the great outdoors: plant a seed, volunteer at an animal shelter, take a walk with a naturalist at the park, read about classifications of animals (kids’ books can be a great place to start).
9. Spiritual or existential intelligence fits all Dr. Gardner’s criteria except for association with a specific brain specialization—though this intelligence could be a whole-brain function. Those with this ability explore questions about life, death, and what lies beyond the subjective perspective. Prayer and meditation increase whole-brain communication and lessen the blood flow to the parietal lobes (which give a subjective sense of time and space). Explore what lies beyond through inquiry, reading, or talking with others.
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44 comments
add your comment »so everyone is probably smart in one of these aspects?!?
cool
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Wow, now that is interesting. I would have never thought about some of these types of people. Though, I can't say I fit into just one. I am a visual person, but my hand-eye coordination is terrible. I would like to see how people determine who they are.
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A wonderful discussion indeed! Intelligence and its different types are one thing, the capacity of learning good manners, becoming more in tune with Mother Nature, and deepening our own knowledge while also helping others with their own... those are the learnings that make us truly thinking beings that we are supposed to be. Yielding to the propaganda from the media and others does not agree with being an intelligent being and with true intelligence and existance.
What wonderful forum! Gracias to all.
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Deb B.......So very true. There are many other facets of the human condition that should be emphasized in the home as well as schools.
Seemingly man has forgotten the everyday qualities that go into the making of a good person. The opening of a door, a simple thank you or a helpful hand to a child or an elderly person.
Seems materialism has become our god & savior of sorts. And, these gods are parked right on Madison Ave alongside Wall St.
Plant trees for life...................
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If you are interested I have an article on a 3-fold intelligence odel that is mainly to do with career choices - academic, creative, practical, or a mix thereof... We need all three to operate a healthy society. I think it is a shame only academic intelligence is lauded. Without practical people we'd have no food, clothing or shelter - we'd die! So I told my school classes. I believe in honouring all peoples...
Deb B.
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d. well, that's a pain...my comments summarize out as d.
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d.
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There's one that I'm working on - ecological intelligence. There's a book by Daniel Goleman (author of Emotional Intelligence) that just came out with the same title. Ecological intelligence, according to Goleman is something we need in today's world esp. when purchasing things. Picture a 5 pointed star. When we shop we consider these 2 points -- price, quality. Goleman wants us to add 3 more, biological (how does a product at any phase of its creation,existence,and end of life impact life), environmental (air, water, soil...), and sociological (does the company making the product treat its workers well). So we now are supposed to consider these five factors. To be truly responsible consumers, and that's pretty much a big part of what we are on Planet Earth, we need to do an enormous amount of research on each item we purchase. Who has the time? Is the information easily available? Labelling laws as you all know do not concern themselves with ecological intelligence for the most part. Try researching one thing. I did and it turned into a dead end. I couldn't get the information on what antibacterial substance was added to a new toilet seat made by American Standard. They would be very nice on the phone, put me on hold, promise to call back etc. and no I never found out what was incorporated into a toilet seat to make it "antibacterial". My point, beyond taking up the enormous task of becoming ecologically intelligent, is that living simply is a lot easier than u
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They are all a form of empathy and openness to experience through awareness.
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what a great discussion! i'd like to point out that the entire concept of 'intelligence' is a concept. it's a framework for discussing something that we all experience as human beings. and while i find the discussion extremely valuable, it's important to remember that definitions, whether established by psychologists, university exams, parents, etc- don't represent some ultimate reality "out there".
there is no theory that can elliminate possibility, psychology can't "prove" something wrong in any objective sense. there is only current thinking established within our present undertanding. the "experts" don't have a handle on some ultimate reality in regards to intelligence or anything else.
as someone who was labeled "gifted" at an early age i have often been dismissed because i don't easily recall facts and figures. i've also long been aware that i'm surrounded by people who are smart in ways that impress and baffle me. i'm always happy to see discussions concerning different types of brilliance!
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