In: Psychology
essay questions
Although natasha is a brilliant pianist and highly acclaimed ballent dancer, her high school intelligence test scores were only average. what does natasha's experience suggest regarding the nature of intelligence?
Diego is the oldest son of Mexico parents who immigrated to the US less than five years ago. diego's high school teachers perceive him to be fairly intelligent. but his SAT scores are low, and he is having trouble getting into college. Diego,s mother angrily claims that " intelligence tests are biased against Hispanics. " Diego's father sadly counters, "it's not the tests that are biased; it's American education that is biased." Carefully explain why you would agree or disagree with the comments made by each parent.
1. Natasha's experience supports Howard Gardener's theory of multiple intelligences. According to this theory, there is not one generalised intelligence. Rather, eight different types of intelligences exist. These are: Spatial, Linguistic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Musical, Logical Mathematical, Bodily kinesthetic and Naturalistic. Natasha's experience suggests that she may be high one bodily kinesthetic intelligence. It is the ability to use one's body or its parts skilfully. Dancers and athletes are high on bodily kinesthetic intelligence. The intelligence that is measured by traditional intelligence tests is usually logical mathematical which involves the ability to engage in logical and mathematical reasoning. As Gardener claims, these intelligences are not inter dependent; a person high on one need not be high on other. This theory of intelligence is unique because it acknowledges that there cannot be a single definition or typology of intelligence. Natasha's experience also supports this idea. Being high or low on one type of intelligence does not define a person as less or more intelligent.