Intelligence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Intelligence - Essay Example(Wechsler, 1944, p.4)Intelligence is considered to be global as it characterises the individuals behavior as a whole it is a combination of those elements or abilities, which, though not alone independent, are qualitatively differentiable. By measurement of these abilities, we ultimately evaluate intelligence. But intelligence is not equal with the mere sum of these abilities, however inclusive. (Wechsler, 1944, p. 6) Wechsler suggests that there are three important reasons, which justify this control(1) The ultimate products of intelligent behaviour are not tho a function of the number of abilities or their quality but also of the way in which they are combined, that is, upon their configuration.(3) Finally, while different orders of intelligent behaviour may require varying degrees of clever competency, an excess of any given ability may ply relatively little to the effectiveness of the behaviour as a whole. It would seem that, so far as general intelligence is concerned, intellectual ability as such merely enters as a incumbent minimum.Thus, to act intelligently, one must be able to recall numerous items i.e., have a retentive memory. But beyond a certain point and age in developmental life span, this ability does not help much in coping with life situations successfully. (Wechsler, 1944, p. ... However the extent to which gloaming is confronted can be evaluated through various measurement tests and techniques. Although intelligence is no mere sum of intellectual abilities, the wholly way we can evaluate it quantitatively is by the measurement of the various aspects of these abilities. There is no contradiction here unless we insist upon the identity of general intelligence and intellectual ability. (Wechsler, 1944, p. 8) Researchers have ever related intelligence to different mental processes. More recently psychologists have began to emphasize not only the processes but the content as well. They speak of memory but of auditory memory not only of reasoning but of abstract, verbal or arithmetical reasoning. In a like manner some(prenominal) psychologists have begun to distinguish various kinds of intelligence. Thorndike, has suggested subdividing intelligence into three main types (1) Abstract or verbal intelligence, involving deftness in the use of symbols (2) Practical intelligence, involving facility in manipulating objects (3) Social intelligence, involving facility in dealing with homo beings. The significant thing about this classification is that it emphasises upon the age criteria, accomplishments a person can achieve and how he can do it. This distinction between function and content is fully justified by observational evidence. The rating, which an individual attains on an intelligence examination, depends to a considerable degree on the type of test used. His build on a test do up largely of verbal items may differ significantly from that obtained on a test involving questions of social comprehension and still more from another test made up of items involving predominantly psychomotor reactions and the perception of spatial relationships.