Individual and Group Differences

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Chapter 5

• Individual and Group Differences

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Objective 1
Discuss the nature of group and individual
differences
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Moms wisdom The difference between groups is
rarely as much as the difference within a group.
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The Nature of Intelligence
Intelligence is difficult to define
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Some definitions of intelligence
the global capacity of a person to act
purposefully, to think rationally, and to deal
effectively with his or her environment whatever
an intelligence test measures
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Objective 2
Describe the evolution of intelligence tests,
including the development and interpretation of
an IQ score
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Binet and the notion of mental age
Mental age the average age at which children
could perform a particular task
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The ratio IQ score IQ MA/CA The deviation IQ
score IQ is determined by how far one deviates
from the mean
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Theories of Intelligence
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Objective 3

• Describe the following theories of intelligence
• Spearmans g
• Thurstones special abilities
• Gardnerss multiple intelligences
• Sternbergs triarchic theory
• Cattells crystallized and fluid intelligence

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Spearmans g
Spearman used a factor analytic approach He
developed a theory that was hierarchical in
nature. The highest factor was factor g,
general intelligence
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Thurstones theory of special abilities
Verbal meaning Word fluency Number Space Perceptua
l Speed Memory Inductive Reasoning
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Gardners multiple intelligences

• Criteria for an intelligence
• psychometric evidence
• pattern of exceptionality
• brain damage
• separate developmental history
• different symbol system

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Gardners multiple intelligences

• Multiple intelligences
• Linguistic intelligence
• logical - mathematical
• spatial
• musical
• bodily-kinesthetic
• interpersonal
• intrapersanal
• naturalistic

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Skills related to linguistic intelligence
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Skills related to logical-mathematical
intelligence
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Skills related to spatial intelligence
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Skills related to musical intelligence
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Skills related to body-kinesthetic intelligence
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Skills related to interpersonal intelligence
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Skills related to intrapersonal intelligence
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Skills related to naturalistic intelligence
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Sternbergs Triarchic Theory

• Components of Intelligence internal mental
  mechanisms responsible for intelligent behavior.
• Experience and Intelligence the ability to deal
  with novel situations and the ability to
  automatize information processing.
• The Context of Intelligence the ability to
  adapt to, shape, and select environments relevant
  to ones life.

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The Components of Intelligence

• Performance components mental processes
  actually involved in accomplishing a particular
  task (e.g., carrying out mathematical computation
  or reasoning)
• Knowledge acquisition components mental
  processes involved in learning, particularly in
  natural contexts (e.g., learning how to compute
  something, learning the meaning of words)
• Metacomponents executive processes that control
  other components (e.g., a decision to respond
  quickly or slowly)

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Experience and Intelligence

• Dealing with novelty Ones ability to deal with
  novel situations is an important aspect of
  intelligence
• Developing automaticity Ones ability to
  automatize certain tasks in an important aspect
  of intelligence. Automatization frees up mental
  resources

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The Context of Intelligence

• Adaptation to the environment Intelligent
  behavior is behavior that is well suited to its
  environmental context.
• Environmental selection Intelligent behavior
  involves making wise choices regarding the
  context or environment in which one must act.
• Finding what you are good at and sticking with it
• knowing when to quit
• Environmental shaping Intelligent behavior
  involves changing the environment to improve the
  fit.

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Cattells Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence

• Fluid intelligence Abilities that are not
  influenced by experience. Examples, problem
  solving and reasoning.
• Crystallized intelligence Acquired knowledge
  and ability. Examples, ability to solve
  arithmetic problems

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Objective 4
Describe the role of genetics and environment in
determining intellectual ability
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Evidence of genetic influence
Identical twins will be more alike in
intelligence than will other siblings.
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Evidence of environmental influence
Identical twins reared apart will be less alike
in intelligence than twins reared together
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Evidence of environmental influence
Identical twins reared apart will be less alike
in intelligence than twins reared
together Intellectual ability can be enhanced
through environmental enrichment
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The notion of heritability
Heritability refers to the percentage of variance
in IQ attributable to genetics. Heritability
estimates run in the vicinity of 50
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The interaction of genetics and environment
Naturally intelligent people seek out different
environments which result in different
experiences.