Intelligence
Intelligence centers on what one knows unlike cognition which centers on how one came to their conclusion. Intelligence is testable and measurable. Intelligence can be measured through a numerical score which you would receive on a test which also makes it a
quantitative value. In this section, we will explore some of the earlier theories of intelligence along with their corresponding theorists.
Alfred Binet
Alfred Binet was a French psychologist who was the first man to create intelligence testing. He was hired by the Paris school system to create a means of separating the children into 2 groups; those of normal and below normal intelligence for their age group. He gathered 50 children of 5 different age groups (10 from each group), tested them, and used their results to create an average intelligence baseline in which other children from their age group would be compared to. This test was called the "1905 Scale" and he developed it with a student of his named Theodore Simon. The results of this test were used as the average "mental age" for children. For example, if a 5 year old was able to answer all the questions that 5 year olds from the baseline group were able to answer then that child's mental age was 5 years old, but if that 5 year old was able to answer those questions plus the questions that a 10 year old could answer then that child's mental age was 10.
Charles Spearman's theory was that people have a set of general intelligences that are common amongst many and throughout life as one gets older and pursues certain paths, they develop specialized intelligences that make them more competent in the field that they choose. Spearman called the generalized intelligences our "g factor" and the specialized intelligences our "s factor". When we choose our career and begin putting our "s factor" to use, it then becomes our "S factor".
Charles Spearman
Louis Leon Thurstone was an American psychologist who disagreed with Charles Spearman's "g factor" theory but instead believed that there were 7 independent intelligence factors. He called them "Primary Mental Abilities". These 7 factors included number facilities, reasoning, memory, spatial perception, perceptual speed, verbal comprehension, and word fluency. These intelligence factors align well with current intelligence tests like the ACT and the SAT.
L. L. Thurstone
Joy Paul Guilford
Self Connection
Application to Nursing
Joy Paul Guilford expanded Thurstone's 7 factors of intelligence using a multidimensional cube that outlined 120 different kinds of intellectual abilities with 150 possible combinations. One dimension shows what you are thinking about, the second shows how you are thinking and the third shows the product of how you were thinking or the result of your thought process. 2 well known abilities from the cube are the divergent and convergent thinking abilities. A divergent thinker creates creative ideas or solutions using a multitude of possibilities. A convergent thinker focuses on finding a more well defined solution to a problem. A divergent thinker may do better on an abstract thunking assignment while a convergent thinker does better with multiple choice tests.
Guilfords Cube
Charles Spearman's "g factor" theory resonates most with me. Throughout grade school, I've always had my "g factors" like reading, writing, and mathematics and as I got older, I started to develop an interest in science, anatomy, the inner workings of the brain/body, and helping others. Those became my "s factors". Now that I am an adult choosing my future career, those "s factors" have come into play leading me to choose nursing which will eventually be my "S factor".
I believe that empathy and the ability to properly socially interact with others, especially complete strangers that are in distress, are 2 types of intelligences. The nursing profession requires a mix of so many different intelligences and it requires major critical thinking skills.