Card file of methods for diagnosing intelligence (psychological - pedagogical diagnostics)

Scientific research is an inexhaustible source of information on almost any topic, and this is especially true regarding human thinking. Thanks to the efforts of scientists, today even a completely ordinary person can learn about the brain and intelligence something that will help him become smarter, achieve success and expand his boundaries.

In our article “Development of thinking. What to do to become smarter,” we talked in detail about why you need to become smart in general, and even cited interesting statistics and scientific data. However, the information available to humanity today still leaves a lot of questions unanswered about how a person thinks, what thoughts are, what intelligence is made of, etc.

In our material today, we want to briefly tell you about ten interesting theories about human intelligence that scientists are studying. Some of them have already been refuted, others have been criticized, but it still cannot be ruled out that one day experts will find evidence of this or that theory, after which the understanding of intelligence and its mechanisms will radically change.

One way or another, we believe that this information may seem interesting to anyone who is engaged in self-development and strives to become smarter. It is quite possible that after reading this article you will have some new ideas that you can successfully use in your life.

Birth sequence

Scientists have been trying for decades to understand how birth sequence affects what affects a person's intelligence. But one of the latest studies conducted by the American Psychological Association states that there is no direct relationship between the order of birth of children in a family and their level of intelligence.

Not so long ago, experts believed that it was the first-born children who showed the best results in texts testing intelligence. They explained this by the lack of competition for the attention and care of parents, which allows children to devote more time to receiving and assimilating new information. And children who were born later, according to scientists, experienced a lack of parental care and, as a result, did not show such good results on tests.

As for the latest study specifically, it compared siblings without touching on birth order. And it was possible to establish that there is no significant relationship between birth order and mental characteristics.

Intelligence tests

IQ tests are typically used to assess cognitive abilities, intelligence quotient, and achievement levels. The most common are standard intelligence tests, such as the SAT (Academic Assessment Test) and the Stanford-Binet Test for Gifted Children. These tests evaluate a person's cognitive skills and compare them with those of the general population.

Such tests have been popular for decades among ordinary people, but despite this, today they are increasingly criticized. Some experts, for example, are convinced that there is a certain bias in these tests along various lines: racial, gender, cultural and socio-economic.

Such IQ tests are based on the no longer current idea that human intelligence is something that is determined at birth and does not undergo major changes throughout life. Therefore, scientists who share the opinion that the “old” tests are biased recommend that everyone who takes them not take their results too seriously.

Coefficient and methods for determining it

Intelligence quotient is called IQ. With its help, scientists determine the degree of development of a person’s mental abilities. In rare situations, IQ tests are used to compare intelligence between humans and animals. Researchers were able to determine the IQ of even an earthworm.

IQ is determined by conducting highly specialized tests. With their help, you can find out various factors:

1. Absence or presence of mental disorders, pathologies.
2. Calculate the “intellectual age” of the individual, which is compared with biological age.
3. Level of development of mental abilities.

Creating an IQ test is difficult. This is usually carried out by a team of experienced psychologists together with scientists from other fields.

Craniometry

In the 19th century, scientists believed that a person's intelligence could be assessed by measuring their skull and facial structure. At the very beginning of the development of this theory, the French surgeon Paul Broca made the opposite assumption: he believed that the level of intelligence was influenced by the ratio of the length of the forearm to the length of the shoulder.

The scientist tried to prove that the most intellectually developed race is the race of white people, based only on the length of the arm, but he did not succeed. Then he decided to measure the skull and facial structures to determine how large a brain could fit inside the skull of a particular person. This method seemed to him more suitable for assessment. This was called craniometry.

According to craniometry, the larger the bones of the skull, the larger the brain that is located in it, which means that a person has high intelligence. However, the methodology was subject to constant criticism: many found racial prejudice in it, and also pointed out the lack of evidence base. As a result, at the beginning of the 20th century, craniometry ceased to exist as a technique for assessing intelligence.

But it is still worth noting that research in craniometry contributed to the discovery of brain speech centers and the identification of the concepts of intellectual factor, which we all know today as IQ.

Application

Appendix 1. The test subject's answers to the tasks of the R. Amthauer test

I	Question	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
	Answer	G	V	d	d	V	A	G	b	d	V
	Question	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
	Answer	A	d	b	A	G	A	V	G	b	A
II	Question	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
	Answer	d	b	A	G	b	G	V	G	V	G
	Question	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40
	Answer	G	G	A	V	G	A	A	G	b	G
III	Question	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50
	Answer	V	d	b	d	V	G	b	V	b	G
	Question	51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60
	Answer	V	b	b	V	G	d	V	V	b	G
IV	Question	61					62
	Answer	fruits - berries					harmful to the body
	Question	63					64
	Answer	measuring instruments					parts of the face
	Question	65					66
	Answer	reflection					works of art
	Question	67					68
	Answer	volume level					embryos
	Question	69					70
	Answer	symbols					fish
	Question	71					72
	Answer	needs					alive organisms
	Question	73					74
	Answer	tools					degrees of comparison
	Question	75					76
	Answer	religious sanctions					approval-disapproval
V	Question	77	78	79	80	81	82	83	84	85	86
	Answer	85	630	235	24	36	60	35	50	720	90
	Question	87	88	89	90	91	92	93	94	95	96
	Answer	52,5	9	45	60	16	26	36	5	42	4
VI	Question	97	98	99	100	101	102	103	104	105	106
	Answer	27	26	25	16	62	31	51	7	8	12
	Question	107	108	109	110	111	112	113	114	115	116
	Answer	2	13	42	9	12	71	15	17	63	14
VII	Question	117	118	119	120	121	122	123	124	125	126
	Answer	b	G	V	V	d	V	A	A	A	b
	Question	127	128	129	130	131	132	133	134	135	136
	Answer	A	G	d	G	V	d	G	G	b	d
VIII	Question	137	138	139	140	141	142	143	144	145	146
	Answer	d	G	d	A	G	A	b	d	A	G
	Question	147	148	149	150	151	152	153	154	155	156
	Answer	G	b	d	d	d	G	d	A	d	d
IX	Question	157	158	159	160	161	162	163	164	165	166
	Answer	4	5	3	2	5	1	2
	Question	167	168	169	170	171	172	173	174	175	176
	Answer	3	3	4	1	5

Appendix 2. Subject's answers to the Raven test tasks

A	Question	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
	Answer	4	5	1	2	6	3	6	2	1	3	4	1
B	Question	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
	Answer	2	6	1	2	1	3	5	6	4	3	4	6
C	Question	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36
	Answer	8	2	3	8	7	4	5	1	7	6	1	2
D	Question	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48
	Answer	3	4	3	7	8	6	4	4	1	2	5	6
E	Question	49	50	51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60
	Answer	7	6	5	2	1	5	1	5	3	2	1	5

Heredity

Many people believe that if a child is born into a family of smart parents, then he will also be smart, but is this true? Some studies confirm this, and some deny it, but it is known for sure that heredity still has an impact on a person’s IQ.

However, we must not forget about the surrounding conditions and the fact that culture plays a role in the formation of human intelligence. But nothing can be said with certainty about intelligence genes. Research in this area suggests that the number of genes responsible for intelligence can be 40 or 80 percent.

Scientists today are actively studying both the influence of genes on intelligence and the influence of upbringing. This area is still gaining momentum, and researchers hope that relevant experiments will help not only understand how the mind functions, but also better understand the intricacies of a person’s character and behavior, as well as the characteristics of the psyche.

In this case, of particular importance is the fact that a person’s mind is not influenced by race, and heredity cannot be considered as the only factor determining intellectual potential.

What factors influence a person's mental abilities?

The level of intelligence can vary significantly among different people. Among us there are intellectuals, slow-witted people, people with average abilities and those who are commonly called mentally retarded. But why are people so different mentally?

Various studies have shown that the formation of human mental abilities is influenced primarily by genetic factors. Upbringing, environmental influences and random external influences play a much smaller role.

However, the external environment also has a certain significance for the formation of intelligence. These are factors such as the standard of living of the family, the level of education of parents, the nature of upbringing, the availability of school education for children (in American studies, students from good urban schools turned out to be more intellectual than students from modest rural schools). Research has even established the influence of such individual factors as annual family income, the size of the house and its cost, the relationship between parents, etc.

The role of nutrition cannot be ruled out. The brain is a rather voracious structure, and a lack of nutrients can lead to a decrease in its ability to process information.

Primary intelligence potential

At the beginning of the 20th century, American psychologist Louis Thurstone proposed that intelligence consists of seven components. This theory differed significantly from the prevailing ideas about intelligence at that time, according to which intelligence was based on one factor (there was no idea what exactly this factor was).

According to Thurstone, the seven components on which intelligence is based included:

• mastery of words;
• verbal comprehension;
• speed of perception;
• ability to count;
• ability to think logically;
• associative memory;
• spatial visualization.

Thurstone's theory has not stood the test of time, but his research still has supporters today, especially in the field of psychometry, a science that conducts quantitative studies of psychological measurements.

Bibliography

1. Anastasi A., Urbina S. Psychological testing. – St. Petersburg: Peter, 2001. – 688 p. – (Series “Masters of Psychology”).
2. Druzhinin V.N. Psychology of General Abilities - St. Petersburg: Peter Publishing House, 1999. - 368 pp.: (Series “Masters of Psychology”).
3. Eliseev O.P. Workshop on personality psychology - St. Petersburg: Publishing House "Peter", 2000. - 560 p. – (Series “Workshop in Psychology”).
4. Maklakov A.G. General psychology. – St. Petersburg: Peter, 2002. – 592 p. – (Series “Textbook of the New Century”).
5. Shapar V.B., Timchenko A.V., Shvydchenko V.N. Practical psychology. Tools. – Rostov n/d: publishing house “Phoenix”, 2002. – 688 p.

Intelligence and gender

Today we all pay attention to the fact that the thinking of men and women is different, but there are still no facts that would confirm that one sex is smarter than the other. Although research in this area is very popular today.

Scientists have been able to identify two types of human brain. Type 1 brains contain the largest amount of gray matter, which is responsible for processing information, while type 2 brains contain more white matter, the tissue that connects the gray matter. So research shows that men have 6.5 times more gray matter in their brains, and women have 10 times more white matter in their brains.

What conclusions can be drawn? In short, the predominance of one type of brain tissue or another does not affect brain performance. The only difference is that men and women solve different problems in slightly different ways and achieve different results.

Levels of intellectual activity

There is such a thing in psychology as levels of intellectual activity.

Researchers identify three such levels:

• Stimulus-productive – when mental activity is caused only by the influence of external factors.
• Heuristic is a spontaneous cognitive activity that leads to the discovery of a number of patterns.
• Creative is the highest level of mental activity, at which there is a full penetration into the essence of the things being studied, solving existing problems and setting new tasks.

At the first level, intellectual activity is limited to a given or initially found path. A person can study various phenomena and solve various problems, but only as private ones, without connection with each other. At this level, however, the intellectual can put forward quite bold hypotheses.

At the second level, the researcher can compare disparate phenomena and problems and find something in common in them, identify new patterns. In this case, knowledge occurs empirically.

At the third level, comparing different phenomena and finding what they have in common becomes not just a separate technique, but is itself a problem that requires deep insight into the essence of things. In this case, the researcher uses the theoretical path of knowledge.

Intellectual actions of an individual are divided into levels in another way.

In this case, there are two levels:

• Personal actions at the level of a social individual, while human activity is determined by the task and desired results.
• Actions of a creative person; in this case, the result turns out to be broader than the stated goal and gives rise to new tasks.

The activity of the individual gradually ceases to be a response to the initially set task and takes on a creative character.

The division of the work of the intellect into levels also reflects the history of the development of mental activity in humans. That is, the first people passively solved the problems facing them, formed by nature itself, and strived for biological survival; knowledge was more of an adaptive nature. Subsequently, primitive “scientific” activity appeared, when, through searches, trial and error (empirically), people found new patterns in the structure of the surrounding world and tried to use them in their practice. Finally, at the very latest time, a theoretical science was formed that had a developed methodological apparatus and deep criteria for knowing the truth.

For clarity, you can also use Maslow’s famous pyramid, which reflects the hierarchy of human needs. It shows that the need for creativity and spiritual development is the highest, and to achieve it you need to go through lower levels. In accordance with this, the intellect works: at first it is aimed at achieving pressing goals and solving specific problems (finding food, housing, achieving material well-being), then opportunities arise for learning something new, and at the highest level the opportunity arises for creative activities.

General intelligence

In our article we cannot fail to mention the idea of ​​general intelligence, because many theories are built on it, including the theory called the G factor. Scientific research suggests that there is general intelligence, and it does not depend on the results shown by what -one person compared to the general mass of people.

Typically, information about the characteristics of the human intellect is obtained through psychometry. But now there are innovative techniques, the use of which has allowed scientists to suggest that the brain has special sections and neural connections that contribute to the creation of general intelligence.

This theory continues to be actively studied, and it is likely that very soon scientists will be able to prove that both individual and universal intelligence have a biological basis.

Development methods

It is possible to develop intelligence, but for this you need to regularly try, not stop at the results achieved, and engage in self-improvement. There are different methods for developing intelligence in children and adults.

In children

The following will help in developing intellectual abilities:

1. Daily walks in the fresh air.
2. Formation of a clear daily routine, in which there will be enough time for sleep, rest, learning, and active games.
3. Shared reading, best done before bed.
4. Lack of a rigid mentality, development of a system of praise for achievements.
5. Setting daily tasks and distributing them according to importance.

The development of a child’s intellectual abilities depends on the upbringing of parents and teachers at school. When using teaching methods, you need to reduce them to play. This makes it easier to interest the child and make the learning process simple and fun. Otherwise, he may develop hatred for the educational process, which will lead to problems in the future.

In adults

To develop intelligence you need:

1. Play chess, checkers, solve crosswords, logic problems.
2. Read every day. It is not necessary to choose scientific literature. It is better that these are works of art that evoke pleasant feelings when read.
3. Sleep at least 8 hours per day. Eat properly. To refuse from bad habits.
4. Develop knowledge in areas of interest.
5. Train your memory every day. It is necessary to remember the first and last names of friends and their mobile numbers. You can memorize one verse every week.
6. Spend time thinking about complex issues and life situations. Try to come up with different ways to solve the problem.
7. Do math regularly.
8. Set aside free time to learn to play a musical instrument.
9. Learn to think outside the box. In different life situations there is no need to look at others. It is recommended to develop your own approaches.
10. Start studying foreign languages. This will help develop mental abilities and will be useful in your career.
11. Make up different stories. It's better to write them down on a piece of paper.

We must not forget about a healthy lifestyle. It is recommended to go in for sports, and if this is not possible, do daily exercises and walk outside in the evenings.

Intelligence is the ability to use one’s own potential for adaptation, survival, and development in the conditions of the surrounding world. Various factors influence the level of mental abilities. If it remains at a low level, it can be developed to a normal level and even higher. It is important to choose appropriate methods and not stop in self-development.

Multiple Intelligences

According to the theory of multiple intelligences, the human mind includes a whole range of different types of intelligence. The author of this theory, American psychologist Howard Gardner, says that intelligence is the ability to create and maintain values, solve problems and expand one's knowledge by solving these problems.

The scientist believes that one unique intelligence of each person consists of nine types of intelligence, including:

• spatial intelligence;
• musical intelligence;
• existential intelligence;
• intrapersonal intelligence;
• interpersonal intelligence;
• kinesthetic (bodily) intelligence;
• linguistic intelligence;
• naturalistic intelligence;
• mathematical (logical) intelligence.

It is interesting that since the development of this theory in 1983, unlike many others, it has not become outdated and has not been refuted by anyone. But, of course, to fully confirm it, a lot more research and experimentation is required.

tabula rasa

Tabula Rasa (Latin for “blank slate”) is the theory that humans are born with “pure minds.” For many centuries this theory has been supported by psychologists and philosophers. She assumes that at the moment of birth a person’s mind is empty and fresh, has enormous potential and awaits filling with life experiences and emotions.

As we have already said, active debate continues today about what is most important for intelligence - education or genetics; should we consider a person exclusively a creation of nature or does the environment play a larger role?

In recent decades, many studies have been conducted in which scientists studied twins separated at birth, because they “contain” the same genetic material, but the environment in which they grow and develop is different. And, according to scientists, a person’s mind, like his other individual traits (for example, gender identity), is a combination of inherited genes, experiences and environmental influences.

Triarchic theory of intelligence

The author of this theory is American psychologist Robert Sternberg. In developing it, he went against all ideas and assumptions about general intelligence and standard mental abilities. Intelligence for a scientist was not just an academic factor. Sternberg put forward the hypothesis that every person has a practical intelligence, significantly different from academic intelligence, but equal in importance to it.

The triarchic theory of intelligence includes three subtheories:

• contextual theory about the interaction of intelligence with experience of the external world;
• component theory about the connection of intelligence with the inner world;
• an empirical theory about a person's ability to adapt to situations and perform certain tasks.

The last subtheory is divided into two directions:

• how a person copes with new impressions and tasks;
• how a person copes with well-known experiences and tasks.

The triarchic theory turned out to be very interesting, but, of course, it also had critics. They say that it is more like a description of a set of practical skills needed by a person than an explanation of how intelligence functions, and that Sternberg is unable to provide information based on direct observations.