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Howard Gardner's Contributions to Psychology
Biography and Theories
By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Updated on November 07, 2023
Fact checked by James Lacy
Portrait of Howard Gardner, April 20, 2011
Proctor Academy/ Flickr CC
Table of Contents
Biography
Gardner's Contributions to Psychology
Awards
Contrasting Views
Howard Gardner is a developmental psychologist whose best-known contribution to psychology is his
theory of multiple intelligences. He believed that the conventional concept of intelligence was too
narrow and restrictive and that measures of IQ often miss out on other "intelligences" that an individual
may possess.
His 1983 book Frames of Mind, outlined his theory and eight major types of intelligence. Gardner's
theory had a particular impact in the field of education, where it inspired teachers and educators to
explore new ways of teaching aimed at these different intelligences.1
At a Glance
Howard Gardner's contributions to psychology have helped expand our understanding of learning and
knowledge. Instead of focusing on traditional ways of learning and testing, he suggests that there are
many types of knowledge and that things can be taught in various ways.2 His theory of multiple
intelligence proposes that this can include interpersonal, intrapersonal, kinesthetic, verbal,
mathematical, musical, natural, and visual intelligence.
Brief Biography of Howard Gardner
Howard Gardner was born on July 11, 1943 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He described himself as "a
studious child who gained much pleasure from playing the piano." He completed his post-secondary
education at Harvard, earning his undergraduate degree in 1965 and his Ph.D. in 1971.3
While he had originally planned to study law, he was inspired to study developmental psychology by the
works of Jean Piaget. He also cited the mentoring he received from the famous psychoanalyst Erik
Erikson as part of why he set his sights on psychology.
His influences at Harvard, including Erikson, sociologist David Riesman, and cognitive psychologist
Jerome Bruner, had a major impact on Gardner's ideas and work.4
Gardner's Contributions to Psychology
After spending time working with kids and adults who had experienced brain damage, Gardner began
developing a theory designed to synthesize his research and observations. In 1983, he published Frames
of Mind, which outlined his theory of multiple intelligences.
According to this theory, people have many different ways of learning. Unlike traditional theories of
intelligence that focus on one single, general intelligence, Gardner believed that people instead have
multiple different ways of thinking and learning.5
The Eight Intelligences
He has since identified and described eight different kinds of intelligence:
Interpersonal intelligence
Intrapersonal intelligence
Kinesthetic intelligence
Linguistic-verbal intelligence
Mathematical intelligence
Musical intelligence
Naturalistic intelligence
Visual-spatial intelligence
He has also proposed the possible addition of a ninth type which he refers to as "existential
intelligence."6
Impact on Education
Gardner's theory has perhaps had the greatest impact within the field of education, where it has
received considerable attention and use. His conceptualization of intelligence as more than a single,
solitary quality has opened the doors for further research and different ways of thinking about human
intelligence.
The theory has become enormously popular among educators, in part because it validates their
everyday experiences in the classroom. Many teachers can say how much kids vary in terms of how they
learn, as well as how they display that knowledge.
The theory has helped provide a framework that helps guide how teachers organize their curriculum,
assess learning, and create their teaching practices. It has also help teachers develop new approaches
that can help a broader range of learners succeed in the classroom.7
Gardner previously served as the John H. and Elisabeth A. Hobbs Research Professor of Cognition and
Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He was also an adjunct professor of psychology
at Harvard University and senior director of Harvard Project Zero.
While he retired from teaching in 2019, Gardner continues to research and write. He published a
memoir of his life, "A Synthesizing Mind," in 2020.
Howard Gardener's Publications and Awards
Gardner's publications include "Frames of Mind" (1983), "Intelligence Reframed" (1999), "The App
Genderation" (2013), and "A Synthesizing Mind" (2020).
Due to his significant contributions to psychology, Howard Gardner has also received a number of
awards.
1981, MacArthur Prize Fellowship
1987, William James Book Award, American Psychological Association
1990, University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Education
2000, John S. Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship
2011, Prince of Asturias Award in Social Sciences
2015, Brock International Prize in Education
2020, American Education Research Association's Distinguished Contributions to Research in Education
Award
Multiple Intelligences vs. Learning Styles
In his 2013 book The App Generation, Gardner and co-author Katie Davis suggested that the theory of
multiple intelligences has too often been conflated with the idea of learning styles. Gardner says that
the two are not the same and uses a computer analogy to demonstrate the differences between the
ideas.
Gardner distinguishes between his multiple intelligences and the idea of learning styles by defining
intelligences as a mental computational power in a certain area such as verbal ability or spatial
intelligence. He defines learning styles as to how an individual learner approaches different educational
materials.
Traditional conceptions of a single intelligence suggest that the mind possesses a single, central and all-
purpose "computer," suggests Gardner in his book. This computer then determines how people perform
in every aspect of their lives.8
Gardner's conception of multiple intelligences, on the other hand, proposes that the mind possesses a
number of "computers" that act mostly independently of one another and contribute to different
mental abilities. Gardner initially outlined eight multiple intelligences but is researching the inclusion of
existential intelligence.
Learning styles, on the other hand, relate to an individual's personality and learning preferences. The
problem with the concept of learning styles, Gardner explains, is that not only are they only vaguely
defined, but research has also found little evidence that teaching to a student's preferred style affects
learning outcomes.9
What This Means For You
Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences has had a meaningful impact on how we think about human
intelligence. Rather than simply focusing on a single measure of human cognitive ability, it can be helpful
to consider all of the different mental strengths that you possess.
Read more:
Psychology
Student Resources
History and Biographies
9 Sources
Kendra Cherry
By Kendra Cherry, MSEd
Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the
"Everything Psychology Book."
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