Intelligence

Amanda Wenzel 2.27.14 CPsy2301

Intelligence v Intelligence Quotient

Intelligence: ability to solve problems and to adapt to and learn from experience Intelligence quotient derived from performance on an IQ test

Intelligence Tests
Intelligence Quotient (IQ): an individuals mental age divided by actual age, multiplied by 100

Mental age a persons mental development relative to others (MA/CA X 100 = IQ) Meaning of an IQ of 100
M = 100, SD = 15

Intelligence Tests
Intelligence Quotient
Shows a normal distribution

IQ Scores
Superior above two standard deviations (above 130) Above average within two standard deviations above (116-130) Average within one standard deviation (85115) Below average within two standard deviations below (70-84) Impaired below two standard deviations (below 70)

Intellectual Disability/Mental Retardation

Requires three parts:
IQ below 70 Impairment in adaptive functioning Exhibits these features by age 18

Different degrees:

Causes of Intellectual Disability

Organic
Result of brain damage Examples: Down syndrome, Fragile X, FASD, anoxia

Cultural/Familial
Caused by growing up in a low intellectual environment; low stimulation

Intelligence Tests
Stanford Binet, V (ages 2 through adult) Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, IV (WPPSI IV, ages 2 - 7) Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, IV (WISC-IV, ages 6 through 16)

Wecshler Adult Intelligence Scale, IV (WAIS-IV, ages 16 through adult)

Example
Sarah is a gifted 16-year-old who is taking an intelligence test to see if she qualifies for a gifted and talented program. The psychometrist administering the test is most familiar with the Wechsler scales. Which test would be most appropriate to administer?
A) Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, IV B) Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, IV C) Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, IV

Example
Bobby is 7-years-old. His parents have concerns about his cognitive development and fear that he is developmentally delayed. Although Bobby is old enough to be administered the WISC-IV, the psychologist administering the test is concerned the material will be too difficult. What should she do?

Example
Sophie, who is 5, is administered the Stanford Binet V test of intelligence. She performs at the level of a 7-year-old. What is her IQ? What range did Sophie perform in?

History of Stanford Binet Intelligence Scales

Original purpose: French government asked Binet to identify intellectually challenged children for their placement in special education (Binet-Simon scale) Focus: assess skills that provide the foundation for (i.e., predict) school success
Attention, memory, problem solving skills, etc.

History of Stanford Binet Intelligence Scales

Lewis Terman
Standardized the Binet-Simon scale with American participants Adapted version Stanford Binet (1916)

Intelligence Testing during WWI

World War I
Army officials needed to screen army recruits Used to determine soldiers capability in serving and potential for leadership position

Two versions
Army Alpha, written version Army Beta, oral equivalent (for illiterate people)

Intelligence Testing during WWI

Goal:
Identify those of superior ability and those with mental defect

Criticisms?

Photo: Engle, 1946

Wechsler Scales
Produces an overall IQ scale and scores for specific domains
Full Scale IQ or General Abilities Index Verbal Comprehension Perceptual Reasoning Working Memory Processing Speed

Wechsler Scales
Full Scale IQ
Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory, Processing Speed

General Abilities Index

Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning

Verbal Comprehension/Perceptual Reasoning Examples

Use and Misuse of Intelligence Tests

Use:
Predicts school success, work success Predicts number of years of education Linked with illness, chronic disease

Misuse:
Leads to false expectations about people Many reasons why a person may underperform IQ can become a self-fulfilling prophecy

Use and Misuse of Intelligence Tests

What else matters in predicting important developmental outcomes?
Motivation Physical health Mental health Social skills

Sternbergs Triarchic Theory

Intelligence comes in three forms:
Analytical analyze, judge, evaluate Creative create, design, invent, originate, and imagine Practical use, apply, implement, and put into practice

Gardners Eight Frames of Mind

Howard Gardner there are many different forms of intelligence

Gardners Eight Frames of Mind

Intelligence Verbal skills Mathematical skills Occupation
Authors, journalists, speakers Scientists, engineers, accountants

Spatial skills
Bodily-kinesthetic skills Musical skills Intrapersonal skills Interpersonal skills Naturalist skills

Architects, artists, sailors

Surgeons, craftspeople, dancers, athletes Composers, musicians, and music therapists Theologians, psychologists Teachers, mental health professionals Farmers, botanists, ecologists, landscapes

Emotional Intelligence
Peter Salovey & John Mayor define as the ability to:
Perceive and expression emotional accurately and adaptively Understand emotion and emotional knowledge Use feelings to facilities though, manage one own emotions

Mentioned in Gardeners (interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence) and Sternbergs (practical intelligence) theories

Comparison of Multiple Intelligences

Multiple Intelligences?
On-going debate Some argue for multiple intelligences, some argue for g General intelligence or g
One broad factor An individual who is better at one intellectual task is more likely to excel at other intellectual tasks

Neuroscience of Intelligence
Brain size
Moderate correlation with intelligence

Regions
Broadly distributed Particular importance for neural network involving frontal and parietal lobes

Speed of functioning
Neurological speed faster for gifted children

Genetic Influences
Estimated that 1000 genes contribute, not able to identify specific genes Adoption studies:
Educational levels of biological parents better predictors of childrens IQ than adoptive parents. Approximately 12-18 point increase when lowincome child adopted into high socioeconomic status household

Heritability of Intelligence
Heritability :
Fraction of variance within a population that is attributed to genetics Population concept (does not apply to individuals)

Heritability of 1.00? Considered high when > .70

Heritability of Intelligence
APA estimates heritability of intelligence = .75, suggesting strong genetic component
May vary by study/sample

Can genes and environment really be separated?

Restricted Range Example

Higher Intelligence Lower

Environment Adverse Enriched

Restricted Range Example

Higher Intelligence Lower

Environment Adverse Enriched

Environmental Influences
Flynn effect increase in intelligence scores over time

Environmental Influences
Flynn effect is thought to be related to:
Improved prenatal care Improved postnatal nutrition Increased schooling and test familiarity More stimulating environment

Nature v. Nurture
Heredity and environment matter
Disagreement about which matters more Disagreement about whether it makes sense to consider their contributions separately

Intelligence and Culture

Different cultures have different values
Western: thinking and reasoning skills Eastern: way for community to work together successfully

Cultural Bias in Testing

Difficult to create culture-fair tests (i.e., avoiding cultural bias)
Try to reduce questions that favor a specific cultural background Focus on nonverbal questions

May only be possible to create culturereduced tests

Ethnic Comparisons
Ethnic group performance (high to low):
1) Asian Americans 2) non-Latino Whites 3) Latinos 4) African American

Reasons?
Stereotype threat Actual IQ differences Culturally biased tests

Tests of Infant Intelligence

Bayley Scales of Infant Development, 3rd Edition
Cognitive Language Motor Socioemotional Adaptive

Stability of Intelligence
Performance on tests of intelligence:
Strong correlations between time points (.70 - .90) Individual variability

Giftedness
Generally thought of as IQ > 130 Other criteria:
1) Child is precocious 2) Marching to their own drummer 3) A passion to master

Nature v Nurture
Likely both hereditary and environmental (family support, training)

Giftedness
Importance of gifted and talented programs:
Keeps children challenged, engaged Minimize behavioral disruptions from children who are bored Allows children to form friendships with similar peers

 Describe what the Flynn effect is and give at least 2 explanations for it
Intellegence has been increasing due to better pre-natal care and post-natal treatments. More test oriented environment etc