In describing intelligence we deal with:
(1) Attributes i.e., certain properties or characteristics.
(2) Kinds i.e., intelligence manifested in different situations.
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It will be better to describe intelligence than to define it.
1. Attributes:
There are 4 attributes or aspects of intelligence viz., (a) Level, (b) Range, (c) Area, (d) Speed.
(a) Level:
This refers to the degree of difficulty of a task to be solved. If we think of all tasks as varying in difficulty from easy to hard and if they are arranged on a ladder or scale of difficulty, then the height that we can attain on this ladder is the level or altitude.
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(b) Range of width:
Refers to number of tasks at any given degree of difficulty that we can solve. The number of tasks which an individual can solve at a given degree will represent the range of intelligence for that intelligence at that level.
Higher levels of attitude possess greater range.
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(c) Area:
Means the total number of situations at each level to which the individual is able to respond. So it is summation of all the ranges at each level of intelligence possessed by intelligence.
The levels of intellect of rural and urban children may be the same, but the area of the former will be less than that of the latter.
(d) Speed:
Is the rapidity with which we can respond to situation? Speed shows a +ve correlation with level.
Different tests emphasise different attributes. Binet’s test emphasise level and range and minimised speed.
The Thorndike C.A.V.D. emphasised altitudes and pays practically no. attention to speed.
Thorndike divides intelligence into 4 classes:
(i) C i.e., verbal completion.
(ii) A i.e., intelligence in arithmetical situation
(iii) V i.e., intelligence with respect to vocabulary
(iv) D i.e., intelligence with respect to verbal direction.
Thurstone classifies as:
1. Number (N); 2. Verbal (V);
3. Spatial (S); 4. Word-fluency (W);
5. Reasoning (R); 6. Memory (M);
7. Perceptual (P).
I = [N + V + S + W + R + M + P]
2. Kinds of Intelligence:
Thorndike has suggested three kinds of intelligence viz. (a) The Abstract, (b) The Mechanical or Concrete; and (c) The Social.
(a) The Abstract:
Abstract intelligence is exhibited in our dealings with symbols words, numbers, formulas and diagrams. This ability is conspicuously absent in animals. The abstractly intelligent person is able to discover relations among symbols and to solve problems with their aid. Lawyers, physicians, literary men professional people generally-as well as businessmen, statesmen, and the like should possess abstract intelligence on high degree.
(b) The Mechanical or Concrete:
Mechanical intelligence enables its possessor to deal readily with machines and mechanical contrivances. The engineer, the master mechanic, the highly trained industrial worker must all be mechanically intelligent.
(c) The Social:
This is shown in our social relations. The diplomat, the salesman, the minister must be socially intelligent. The socially intelligent person has the knock of getting along well with people. He makes friends easily and understands human relations.
These intelligence or abilities are not evenly distributed. Some may have more of 1st, other more 2nd and still others more of 3rd. Psychologists have found that abilities are positively related. The abstractly intelligent scientist may not be a skilled mechanic, but he is likely to be better than average in mechanical sense and so forth.