Developmental psychology/Chapter 12/Adulthood Intelligence


 * Charles Spearman (1927) proposed the concept of general intelligence [g]. A basic trait that cannot be measured, but can be estimated based on multiple aspects (vocabulary, memory). One's values, genes, and education play a role in IQ more than age (as one progressively ages, although one's memory and spatial ability decreased). This varies from one person to another and so do IQ scores. This proves that intelligence is the "developmental psychological" approach: "Intelligence is multi-directional, multi-cultural, multi-contextual, and plastic".
 * In the 1960s, Cattell and Horn agreed that intelligence is categorized in two ways: fluid and crystallized. Fluid intelligence is akin to water, fast, and easy to fit in unfamiliar places. This more has to do with one's ability to absorb and learn new, unfamiliar information fast. People that are fast with numbers are an example of people who are prime in fluid intelligence. Puzzles, questions asking for "immediate recollection" and even in-real-life: some people are able to convert stressful experiences into positive ones. On the other hand, crystallized intelligence is a "reflection" of learned material - such as vocabulary and knowing US history. Some psychologists speculate that fluid intelligence decreases while crystallized intelligence increases as one age. IQ only falls down when fluid intelligence drops significantly, affecting crystallized intelligence.
 * Sternberg came up with three parts of intelligence: analytic, creative, and practical. Analytical intelligence is all the parts of one's thinking, such as planning, strategy, focus, and verbal/logical skills, that lead to high academic performances. Multiple-choice tests test out analytical intelligence. Creative intelligence consists of one's ability to be flexible in the face of the unknown (coming up with projects to do for school). Practical intelligence is akin to street smarts, knowing how to apply one's skills in certain demanding situations.
 * Textbook reading of politics and Sternberg's intelligence principles: "Think about the political implication of these three intelligences in various nations. Creative individuals are critical of tradition and therefore are tolerated only in some regimes. Analytic individuals might be seen as absentminded, head-in-the-clouds dreamers; people who focus only on immediate results might ignore the results that scientists, using their analytic thought, might find. As you see, practical intelligence is the most immediately useful. Of course, it could be used for evil as well as good. We all need to be suspicious of short-term benefits at the price of the long-term results from creative or analytic intelligence."
 * Cognitive artifacts are tools passed down from generation to generation and are used to help one's cognitive ability and ability to grow within society. These consist of the number system, computers, textbooks, shopping lists, and universities. Nations with advanced economies and are wealthy tend to use cognitive artifacts beneficially. The Enlightenment comes from intelligent people (or creative-intelligent people).