Lecture 23

Intelligence

  1. Defining Intelligence
    1. Mental Tests
    2. Forms of Intelligence
  2. Measuring Intelligence
    1. Binet
    2. Weschler
    3. What do IQ scores predict?
  3. Nature vs. Nurture
    1. Understanding the Question
    2. Assessment Techniques
    3. Conclusions
    4. Controversies

Overview

The nature of intelligence is one of psychology's oldest topics, and many of psychology's most important historical figures have contributed to its conceptualization and measurement. Considering how much attention it has received, you might be surprised to know that intelligence is not well-understood. Most everyone agrees that it involves the ability to acquire and use knowledge to effectively solve problems, but there is little agreement about whether this ability is a general one or whether there are many specific abilities, each relevant to different types of problems. There is also disagreement about how to measure intelligence, and how genetics and upbringing influence its development.

Specifics