Theories and Definitions

of Intelligence

Anne Jeanette M. Quilatan

III-10 BS Psychology

• Alfred Binet, French Psychologist (1857-1911)

- Modern approach to understand the concept of

intelligence began with his work together with

his colleague, Theodore Simon.

1. The Binet-Simon Scale (1890’s)

Why did they make it?

• A push for compulsory education

• To identify students with special education

• To measure the intellectual development of young children ages 3-12

• To measure the ability of children to think and reason

• The term IQ or Intelligence Quotient evolved.

2. Spearman’s Two-Factor Theory of

Intelligence

Charles Spearman, a British Psychologist (1834-1945)

Advanced the “Two Factor Theory

of Intelligence “g” and “s”.

intelligence comprises both a single, pervasive reasoning ability, a general factor, that is used on a wide variety of tasks and a number of narrow

abilities, specific factors, involved in executing particular tasks.

3. Terman’s Stanford Binet Individual

Intelligence Test (1906)

Lewis Madison Terman,

American Cognitive Psychologist

-Published a revised Binet-Simon

Scale for American population in

1906 at Stanford University

The Stanford-Binet is designed to measure skills in four areas: verbal reasoning, abstract/visual reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and short-term memory.

4. Thorndike’s Stimulus Response Theory

• Edward Lee Thorndike, an American Psychologist and

his students used objective measurements of intelligence

on human subjects, 1903.

• Developed a multi factored test of intelligence:

completion, arithmetic, vocabulary, and directions test.

(CAVD)

• He drew an important distinction among three broad classes of intellectual

functioning: Abstract Intelligence, Mechanical intelligence, and Social Intelligence.

Abstract Intelligence has four dimensions:

Altitude

Width

Area

Speed

Thorndike's Law of Exercise

• Trial and error and Stimulus Response Association

“ Stimulus-response connections that are repeated are strengthened, and Stimulus -

response connections that are not used are weakened”