Intelligence

Intelligence

Introduction

Psychologists agreed that they do not know what intelligence is? They can only observe how it work in terms of behaviours. The assumption is that behaviour reflects intelligence. The present basis of study has yielded such important and usable information about man's behaviour as to be extremely helpful to teachers. Intelligence is nothing but intelligent behaviour. Intelligence is nothing but intelligent behaviours.

"An intelligent behaviour is that which is above the norms of a particular group." It is above the average behaviour. 

A child of two years old behaves above his age group children, he is known as intelligent boy. The intelligence is an inferred phenomenon from behaviour. This meaning of intelligence should be accepted and preserved at least until we have a better construct or more definite knowledge.

Definition/Meaning of Intelligence

The term intelligence means 'Intellect' and 'under standing'. Generally speaking. 'alertness' with regards to the actual situation of life is an index of intelligence. From the layman point of view intelligence means common sense or application part of knowledge. Intelligence is generally guessed from the way a person appears to understand a fact or a group of facts, and the manner in which he/she responds to those facts. But in ancient India our great rishis called it viveka or 'Vivekatmaka Budhl'.

As far as possible the definitions of intelligence is grouped under the following categories. These are as follows:

1. Intelligence Means Ability to Adjust

The following psychologists are strong supporters of this category of definition.

(a) Stern: Intelligence is the general capacity of an individual consciously to adjust his thinking to new requirements. It is the general mental adaptability to new problems and conditions of life or the ability to adjust oneself to a new situation.

(b) Ross: Intelligence means conscious adaptation to new situation.

(c) Burt: Intelligence is the capacity of flexible adjustment.

(d)Colvin: Intelligence as ability to adjust to environment.

II. Intelligence Means Ability to Learn

The second group of psychologists emphasise on ability to learn. The following are the psychologists who support the above definitions:

(a) Woodworth has defined Intelligence 'as intellect put to use'. It is the use of intellectual abilities for handling a situation or accomplishing any task. It is the capacity to acquire capacity or it is an indicator of the ability to cope successfully with novel situations.

(b) Thorndike has defined Intelligence as the power of making good responses from the point of view of truth and fact or it may be defined as the ability to make profitable use of past experiences or Intelligence is the ability of learning. 

Intelligence Means Ability to Carry on Abstract Thinking

The following are the psychologists who strongly advocated the meaning of intelligence as follows:

(a) Terman: He defined Intelligence as the ability to carry on abstract thinking or the ability to think abstractly. 

(b) Binet: Intelligence is a capacity to think well, to judge well and to be self-critical. 

Comprehensive and Modern Definition of Intelligence

In view of the lacunae in the various definitions, the following psychologists have suggested the comprehensive and global ideas on intelligence,

(a) David Wechsler defined Intelligence as the aggregate or global capacity of an individual to act purposefully. to think rationally and to deal effectively with his environment. In his definition he has given emphasis on three aspects, i.e., purposeful activities, rational thinking and effective dealings of an individual to consider intelligence.

(b) Stoddard defined Intelligence is the ability to undertake activities that are characterized by difficulty, complexity, abstractness, economy, adaptiveness to a goal, social value, emergence of originals and to maintain such activities under the condition that demand a concentration of energy, and a resistance to emotional forces. If we analyse the attributes of intelligence given by Stoddard the nature of intelligence will be very clear.

Characteristics of Intelligence 

On the basis of above definitions, the following characteristics can be enumerated.

1. It is an ability of abstract thinking

2. It is a capacity to adjust in new situation. 

3. It is a general mental adaptability

4. It is an ability to relate diverse situations. 

5. It is the capacity to acquire capacities and originds.

6. It is the innate disposition and flexibility of mind. 

7. It is a concentration of energy and global capacity.

8. It is a resistance to emotional forces.

9. It is a power of self-criticism or auto-criticism. 

10. It is an inborn capacity to perceive the right thing at the right place and maintain definite direction. 

11. It is an ability to reduce relationship.

12. It is an ability to learn from experience. 

13. It is an ability to carry on higher process of thoughts.

14. It is an ability of verbal and numbers reasoning. 

15. It involves inductive and deductive reasoning or thinking.

Types of Intelligence

Basically the term intelligence has been classified into three groups. They are as follows:

(a) The Abstract Intelligence

Abstract intelligence refers to the ability to understand and deal with symbols-words, numbers, formulas and diagrams. It means the capacity to solve problems presented in the above form. This type of intelligence can be predicted by testing level of aspiration, capacity to do various types of work and his special interest and speed of work. Generally the lawyers, physicians, literary men, students, statesmen, businessmen and professionals possess abstract intelligence on high degree.

(b) The Concrete/Mechanical/Motor Intelligence

This intelligence refers to the ability to deal readily and effectively with Machines and Mechanical contrivances or the ability of an individual to concrete situations and to react to them adequately. The motor intelligence is more related to physical education, i.e., the activities of games and sports. Thus the person who is engaged in the work of engineering, highly trained persons of mechanic and industry belong to this group of intellectuals.

(c) The Social Intelligence

The person who is able to deal effectively with the people and maintain good social situations possess more social intelligence. These people make friendship easily and understand human relations. The people like salesman, diplomat and politician, etc., belong to this category.

Though there is no specific demarcation of distributing intelligence yet it can be said that some may be more in abstract and others may be mechanical and social intelligence. If a person is very good in abstract intelligence may not be equally fruitful in mechanical work but may be better than average and vice versa.