Psychology 1100: Lifespan Development - Lecture on Intelligence and Creativity in Middle Childhood

Instructor: Bart Pson

Introduction to Intelligence

• Intelligence is a major field in psychology, often measured by psychometricians.
• David Wechsler's Definition: Intelligence is the capacity to understand the world and cope with its challenges.
• Often linked with academic success, job advancement, and social behavior.
• Intelligence vs. Achievement: Intelligence is underlying competence, while achievement is acquired performance.

Theories of Intelligence

• Factor Theorists: Intelligence consists of major mental abilities (factors).
  • Charles Spearman's 'G': General intelligence with broad reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
• Robert Sternberg's Triarchic Theory:
  • Analytical Intelligence
  • Creative Intelligence
  • Practical Intelligence
• Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences:
  • Linguistic, Logical-mathematical, Naturalist, Spatial, Bodily-kinesthetic, Musical, Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Existential.
  • Each intelligence has distinct development and neurological basis.
  • Examples of savants and prodigies highlight diverse intelligence.

Intelligence Testing

• Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test: Developed in the 1930s for young children.
• Wechsler Intelligence Scales (WISC and WAIS): Widely used tests.
  • Measure intelligence through performance tasks and subtests.
  • Scores compared to age-based norms (IQs).
• Cultural Bias in Testing:
  • Tests can reflect cultural experiences; efforts to create culture-free and fair tests.

Development of Intelligence

• Middle Childhood: Stable patterns in intellectual functioning with growth.
• Significant changes around 9-10 years, but differences reduce by teenage years.
• IQ scores influenced by age, home environment, socioeconomic status, and education.

Intellectual Deficiency and Giftedness

• Bell Curve: Centered at 100, defines normal range (90-110).
• Intellectual Deficiency: Significant limitations in intellectual and adaptive behavior.
• Giftedness: High performance in academics, creativity, arts, leadership, etc.

Differences in Intellectual Development

• Group Differences: Exist but require complex explanations.
  • Influenced by socioeconomic status, cultural attitudes, and educational support.
• Cultural Attitudes: Different attributions to success (e.g., hard work vs. innate talent).

Creativity

• Defined as the ability to produce novel and useful solutions.
• Moderate relationship between IQ and creativity.

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Intelligence

• Identical twins reared together vs. apart highlight the role of genetics and environment.
• Heritability of intelligence estimated around 50%.
• Positive effects of enriched environments on intelligence.

Conclusion

• Intelligence and creativity involve complex interactions of genetic, environmental, and cultural factors.