Define intelligence
ability to direct one’s thinking adapt to one’s changing environment and learning from experience
What’s a psychological factor?
a decided mechanism that predicts performance in a specialised domain but not others
What is the theory of intelligence as two factors?
- general intelligence factor (g): hypothesis single factors of intelligence that explains aptitude in all domains of knowledge
- specific factors (s): hypothesized separate factors of intelligence that explain aptitude in specialized domains of knowledge on top of g
What is the theory of intelligence as many factors?
- Independent factor theories: intelligence is many non overlapping abilities each unrelated to the others
- Correlations between tasks are only due to third variable issues
What is intelligence as hybrid theory?
- hybrid theories: intelligence is a group of interrelated factors with g at the top, various middle-level abilities after and specific tasks underneath that
- Fluid intelligence (Gf): learning new information or dealing with novel situations
- Crystallised intelligence (Gc): drawing on experiences from the past
What is a standardised test?
- test which has highly controlled and guided admin protocol
- Gives a score that shows your performance relative to the general population
What are some units of measurement of intelligence?
- IQ: standard unit of intelligence. 100 is average score and 15 is one standard deviation
- Wechsler Adult intelligence scale: most popular test used today, based on hybrid model of intelligence
- Raven’s progressive matrices: non-verbal intelligence based on matching pictures that follow particular types of rules
What is the Wechsler Adult intelligence scale based on?
- general ability index: measure persons intellectual abilities in the absence of time pressure –> verbal comprehension and perceptual reasoning
- cognitive proficiency index: measures a person’s intellectual speed and capacity for processing –> working memory and processing speed
What are some issues with modern intelligence tests?
- Cultural bias: different cultures have different definitions of intelligence
- Education content of intelligence tests overlaps with school content
- Test taking abilities: are we measuring intelligence or test practice?
- Stereotypes: self fulfilling prophecy > how well someone does depends on their belief in themselves
What is genetic variability?
people differ in their genetic makeup
What is environmental variability?
people have different lives, grow up with different family styles, go to different schools, etc.
How do environment and gens interact?
genetic effects change environments; environments change genetic expression
what is genetic determinism?
false belief that if a person carries some set of genes, that their expressed phenotype is fixed and immutable
What is the flynn effect?
average intelligence increases with each successive generation due to:
- improved environment
- improved education
- improved test-taking abilities
Does intelligence change with age?
intelligence is relatively stable with age
after 50 yo fluid intelligence tends to decrease while crystallized intelligence remains stable
Define phrenology
discredited attempt to assess each person’s intelligence by measuring differences in “specialised” brain size through bumps on the skull
What is the stanford binet test?
widely used intelligence test for school children.
developed in 1904 in France and then translated into English
What is the army alpha/beta test?
2 prominent US army tests for determining each person’s capability as a soldier, leadership, etc
Based on Stanford Binet test: also tested variety of items like rhymes, verbal reasoning, puzzles, knowledge of world facts
What were limitations of early intelligence tests?
- Intelligence measured as achievement not aptitude
- Goal is to quickly segregate people into designated roles or classes
- Not standardized and used for a specific purpose
What was the Bell curve (1994)?
book advocating for radical changes in public policy in order to protect high IQ individuals and reduce reproduction amongst low IQ individuals
What claims did the bell curve make?
-Intelligence is stable, largely heritable and reliably measured by IQ tests
- Intelligence tests are valid and unbiased
- Intelligence is best predictor of life outcomes, job and school success, etc
- Welfare allows low IQ individuals to have more children, decreasing overall fitness of society
What is crystallized intelligece?
ability to apply knowledge that was acquired through experience
what is fluid intelligence ?
ability to solve and reason about novel problems
Who developed the two-factor theory of intelligence?
Charles Spearman (1904)
