What is the first thing that comes to mind when I say intelligence? Most likely, your mind conjures up images of Albert Einstein or a person who can calculate numbers in his head like a computer. This type of intelligence is known as logical-mathematical intelligence and is the predominant way of assessing intelligence in our academic systems today. Although possessing a superior capacity for this type of intelligence will earn you a good grade in most educational institutions, it does not lead to success, happiness, or achievement in life in and of itself.

Famous failures in the classroom

In the early 19th century, a partially deaf boy with attention deficit disorder was sent home by his teacher with a note to his parents that the boy was “stupid and unteachable.” This marked the end of formal education for this child. As an adult, the grade school buster went on to challenge the greatest scientific minds and academic theorists of his time by inventing the world’s first sustainable electric light bulb and was immortalized in history as the most prolific inventor of the era. modern: Thomas Alba Edison.

In the early 1800s, a humble frontiersman living in a one-room log cabin in Kentucky dropped out of elementary school after just 18 months, never to set foot in a classroom again. However, this boy had a voracious appetite for books and mastered everything from the Bible to law books. In fact, the young man self-taught himself in his professional career as a lawyer, which opened the door for him to enter politics. On November 6, 1860, the man with only 18 months of elementary education was elected as the 16th President of the United States and went on to become one of the most inspiring presidents of all time: Abraham Lincoln.

The Nine Distinct Intelligences

It is unfortunate that the logical-mathematical type of intelligence is the predominant form of intelligence used to grade students today in educational institutions. In fact, there are nine different types of intelligence according to Harvard psychologist Dr. Howard Gardner, who published his theory of multiple intelligences in 1983. The following is a description of those nine intelligences:

1. Logical Intelligence (Number/Reasoning Intelligence)

This is having the ability to calculate and quantify, as well as perform mathematical operations. It makes use of inductive and deductive reasoning patterns. This type of intelligence is well developed in mathematicians, scientists and detectives. These types of people are interested in patterns, categories, and relationships. They love arithmetic problems, strategy games like chess, and conducting methodical experiments.

You could be logically intelligent if you are good at:

o Solve math problems

o Strategy games

or chess

o Carrying out scientific experiments.

o Computer programming

o Do research

Examples of Logically Intelligent People

o Mathematics teachers/teachers

or computer programmers

or Engineers

or Chemicals

oDetectives

or Scientists

2. Environmental Intelligence (Nature Smarts)

This is having the ability to discriminate between living beings and their natural environment. This type of intelligence was important for survival in our evolutionary past as hunters, gatherers, and later as farmers. In modern times, environmentally intelligent people are eager to detect subtle changes in the environment and movements. His level of awareness and attention to minute detail is excellent. These types of people often see, hear and smell things that other people miss.

You can be environmentally smart if you are good at:

o Identify suspicious characters in a crowd

o Noticing subtle changes in their environment

Cook

o Know when food is spoiling

o Spot poison ivy during a hike

o Detect animals that hide

Examples of environmentally smart people

or bosses

or police officers

or Farmers

or Hunters

Forest ranger

or Botanicals

3. Musical Intelligence (Musical Intelligence)

This is the great ability to discern pitch, rhythm, and tone. This type of intelligence allows us to recognize and reproduce the music that is presented to us. Logical-mathematical thinkers and musical thinkers share common thought processes. Musically intelligent people can often express passionate emotions through the use of music.

You could be musically intelligent if you are good at:

karaoke

o Play a musical instrument

o Identify differences between similar sounds

o Playing sounds and melodies

Examples of musically intelligent people

or musicians

or Vocalists

or Composers

or drivers

o Sound specialists

4. Spiritual Intelligence (Spiritual Intelligence)

This is a form of philosophical and spiritual intelligence that addresses deep unanswered questions about human existence and the meaning of life. Members of the clergy have high levels of this intelligence.

You could be spiritually intelligent if you are good at:

o Reflecting on the great unknown

o Articulate the meaning of life

o Justify death, suffering, etc.

examples of spiritually intelligent people

or religious leaders

or spiritual leaders

or Monks/Nuns

or philosophers

or life coaches

5. Interpersonal Intelligence (Street Smarts)

Interpersonal intelligence is having the ability to read and communicate well with other people. It involves both verbal and non-verbal communication. It is about sensitivity to the moods and emotions of others. Teachers, social workers, actors, and politicians possess great interpersonal intelligence.

You could be Interpersonally Intelligent if you are good at:

o Reading people

oMake friends

o Communicate with others

o Understand other people’s motives

o empathize with others

o Flirting/seducing members of the opposite sex

Examples of people with interpersonal intelligence

or teachers

or social workers

or Actors

or politicians

or psychologists

or natural leaders

6. Intrapersonal Intelligence (Self-Smarts)

This type of intelligence is having the ability to know one’s own thoughts and feelings and the purpose of life. It not only implies the appreciation of oneself, but also of the human condition. Intrapersonally intelligent people have very good control of their emotions and tend to be shy and reserved with others when they are young.

You could be intrapersonally smart if you are good at:

o Know and accept how you feel

or listen to yourself

o Understand the nature of their emotions

o Planning your life direction

o Motivate yourself

Examples of intrapersonally intelligent people

or psychologists

or spiritual leaders

or philosophers

7. Kinesthetic Intelligence (Body Smarts)

This is the ability to use a variety of physical abilities and be able to deftly manipulate physical objects. This type of intelligence requires a great harmony between mind and body. This includes hand-eye coordination and athleticism.

You could be kinesthetically smart if you are good at:

or play sports

o Catch thrown objects

o Fall without injury

Dancing

o Hand-eye coordination activities

o Anything that involves quick reflexes

Examples of Kinesthetically Intelligent People

or athletes

dancers

or mechanical

or Craftsmen

or soldiers

8. Linguistic Intelligence (Word Smarts)

This is having the ability to use words and language to articulate complex meanings and convey emotions. This form of intelligence is the most widely shared of human competencies. Prolific writers and speakers have the ability to move people and shift emotions with their written or spoken words.

You could be linguistically smart if you are good at:

or Writing

or reading

or tell stories

or do crossword puzzles

Examples of Linguistically Intelligent People

oJournalists

or novelists

public speakers

or Consulting

or Trainers

or poets

9. Spatial Intelligence (Picture Smarts)

This is having the ability to think in three dimensions. It involves being able to visualize things beyond the surface and also think in relation to height, width and depth. A sculptor who is given a block of stone has the ability to see the human figure from that block of stone. An architect has the ability to see the building from a vacant lot.

You could be spatially intelligent if you are good at:

or sculpt

oPainting

oDrawing

or assemble puzzles

or Navigation

Examples of spatially intelligent people

or sailors

or Pilots

or sculptors

or Painters

or Architects

Knowing your strengths and weaknesses

Now that you know what the nine different types of intelligences are, find out what your natural mix of intelligences is by giving yourself a score from zero to ten for each of the nine intelligences. Be honest about your natural abilities. This will give you a good baseline of where your strengths and weaknesses lie.

The good thing is that you can improve your level of intelligence through sustained repetition and practice. Familiarity with a certain skill or ability makes up for a lack of natural aptitude for a certain intelligence, so even if you’re not Albert Einstein, you can learn to solve mathematical equations through repetition and practice. You may not be Mozart, but you can learn to play the guitar through practice. You may not be Captain Nemo, but you can learn to sail a ship with proper training.

Remember that success in life does not depend on having a high level of intelligence in particular, but on being complete in all forms of intelligence. This should be your goal in life.

Reference:
Garner, Howard. Multiple intelligences: a theory in practice. Basic books. 1993

© Copyright 2006 by Tristan Loo.