Question

Review Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Describe what you would add to improve this theory.

Review Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory. Describe what you would add to improve this theory.

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) (1) According to Gardner’s Theory, Intelligence needs a few criteria to be fulfilled as a mode of existence. These modalities are: support from experimental psychology, distinct developmental progression, potential for brain isolation after brain damage, the presence of core operations, a place in the evolutionary history, ability to symbolically express, the existence of prodigious individuals and support from psychometric findings.

In order to fulfil these criteria, seven abilities are required. These abilities are: visual-spatial, verbal linguistic, logical mathematical, bodily kinaesthetic, musical rhythmic, intrapersonal and interpersonal abilities.

Basically, the Theory of Multiple Intelligence suggests that each individual has a different type of intelligence. For instance, if a child is good at maths and another is bad at it, it does not mean that the latter isn't intelligent. It just means that the other child might have a different approach to understanding maths or simply has a different perspective of the problem.

The issue with Gardner’s theory is that since every individual would activate different modalities in order to use their cognitive abilities, it would be difficult to test an individual’s intelligence. Every intelligence examination would have to be set up differently in order to measure a person’s visual-spatial ability, verbal-linguistic ability etc.

The test would not be based on what a person is good at but, rather based on how a person is good at it. This theory might be helpful with brain-mapping and determining the functionality of each section of the brain. For instance, spatial abilities might determine a strong vestibular region of the brain. However, this test might be tedious and impractical in general situations.

In order to improve this theory, one can change the morals to be task-oriented as opposed to being indicative of the area of the brain that is involved. That is because tasks are not always strictly subjected to certain areas of the brain. Furthermore, intelligence should be a measure of the outcome and not based on components that help achieve the outcome or result.

(2) According to Sternberg’s Triarchic theory, the three components required to determine one’s intelligence are componential, experiential and contextual subtheories. This means that analytical, creative and practical components are required in order for one to be intelligent.

Through these components, one is able to direct their activities towards purposive adaptations in order to meet their desired goals. This is what Sternberg terms as intelligence.

The issue with this theory is that if regular intelligence tests do not accurately measure intelligence according to Sternberg’s theory of intelligence, then how is it that there is a positive correlation between people who are termed intelligent by such tests and their success in careers and jobs. Since the purpose of intelligence is to achieve certain outcomes and people with regular intelligence do manage to achieve their goals in life, it would be odd to suggest that a different type of intelligence is the true intellect.

The best improvement to this theory would be to alter the three tangents of intellect into the basic indicators that are befitting to the application of the mind in activities. In other words, one must use indicators that a person uses to accomplish tasks as the true measures of intellect.