What are the major theories of intelligence? I know there’s debate about whether intelligence is one general ability or multiple separate abilities. What do psychologists actually think intelligence is and how has that changed over time?
There’s Spearman’s g-factor theory saying intelligence is one general ability, versus Gardner’s multiple intelligences claiming there are separate types like linguistic, spatial, musical, etc. Which one is actually supported by evidence?
The main theories include Spearman’s g-factor (general intelligence underlying all cognitive tasks), Cattell-Horn’s fluid vs crystallized intelligence (problem-solving ability vs accumulated knowledge), Gardner’s multiple intelligences (linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal), and Sternberg’s triarchic theory (analytical, creative, practical intelligence). Psychometric evidence strongly supports g-factor and the fluid/crystallized distinction. Gardner’s theory is popular in education but lacks strong empirical support since the “intelligences” correlate with each other and with g. Modern consensus recognizes both a general factor and specific cognitive abilities organized hierarchically. The CHC (Cattell-Horn-Carroll) model combining these approaches is currently dominant in psychometrics and underlies tests like the WAIS.