Reflection Paper in General Psychology free essay sample

The nature of intelligence is a very interesting topic, which explains different theories of intelligence. The topic starts off with a couple of questions like: â€Å"Is intelligence a single trait or capability? Is it many capabilities unrelated to each other? Are there certain common factors that underlie intelligence? â€Å"These questions definitely catch the reader’s attention. There are four theories of intelligence throughout the article. The first is by Spearman and discusses general intelligence: The g Factor. The English Psychologist Charles Spearman states that intelligence has been considered as more or less a single entity. He observed that people who are good at one type of thinking or cognition tend to do well in other types as well. In other words, they tend to be generally intelligent. Spearman came to believe that intelligence is composed of a general ability, or g Factor, which underlies all intellectual function. I personally agree with Psychologist Charles Spearman’s point of view. We will write a custom essay sample on Reflection Paper in General Psychology or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I consider that intelligence is composed of a general ability, and that is why I believe in what is he saying. Second, Thurstone discusses seven Primary Mental Abilities. Thurstone identified seven primary mental abilities: Verbal Comprehension, numerical ability, spatial relations, perceptual speed, word fluency, memory, and reasoning. He maintained that all intellectual activities involve one or more of these primary mental abilities. Thurstone suggested that a profile showing relative strengths and weaknesses on the seven primary abilities would provide a more accurate picture of a person’s mental ability. I think this is great if you want to test yourself and find out your level of knowledge. Third, Gardner’s Theory of Multiple intelligence: Eight Frames of Mind. Psychologist Howard Gardner proposes eight independent forms of intelligence: 1) Linguistic, 2) Logical/Mathematical, 3) Musical, 4) Spatial, 5) Bodily/Kinesthetic, 6) Interpersonal, 7) Intrapersonal, 8) Naturalistic. Fourth, Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory of Intelligence: The Big Three. Sternberg has formulated a Triarchic theory of intelligence, which as the term Triarchic implies, proposes that there are three types of intelligence-Componential (Analytical), Experiential (Creative), and Contextual (Practical). In Brief, my definition of Intelligence is the ability to comprehend; to understand; to learn; to apply knowledge. If I have to pick one of the theories that I just mention, I would say theory number two because I think it is the most accurate.