Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Chapter 9
Intelligence and Creativity
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Chapter 9 – Intelligence and Creativity
• What is intelligence?– Adaptive thinking or actions (Piaget)– Ability to think abstractly, solve problems?
• Characteristics of intelligence– Genetic determination about 50%– Environmental influence about 50%
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
The Psychometric Approach• A trait – can be identified, measured• A single attribute?
– Spearman: “g” = general; “s” = special• Many attributes?
– Thurstone: 7 primary mental abilities• Spatial ability, perceptual speed, numeric
reasoning, verbal meaning, word fluency, memory, inductive reasoning
• IQ tests and IQ score
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Cattell and Horn
• Fluid intelligence: decreases in older adults– Use mind to solve novel problems– Skills: reasoning, seeing relationships,
inferences, – Free of cultural influences
• Crystallized intelligence: increases with age– Knowledge from experiences (school)– Gen. Info., vocabulary, etc.
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Other Theories
• Gardner’s Theory/multiple intelligences– Eight distinct intelligences not measured
with IQ tests
• 1) Linguistic
• 2) Logical-mathematical
• 3) Musical 4) Spatial
• 5) Bodily-kinesthetic
• 6) Interpersonal 7) Naturalist
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Other kinds of Intelligence
• Savant Syndrome– Extraordinary talent in one area – Otherwise mentally retarded– Musical, artistic, calculation abilities
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory
• Contextual Component – Adapting to the environment– “Street smart,” age group, culture, etc.,
• Experiential Component: AutomatizationAutomatization– Response to novelty
• Componential Component– Information processing – Efficiency of strategies
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Figure 9.2
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
The Stanford-Binet
• Age-graded items
• Older version: Concept of mental age (MA)– IQ = MA/CA X 100
• Modern S-B Scales– Test norms
• Large, representative samples– IQ score of 100 is average
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
The Wechsler Scales
• Widely used today– WPPSI: ages 3-8 (2002)– WISC-III: Ages 6-16 (1991)– WAIS-III: adults
• 3 IQ scores derived– Verbal IQ– Performance IQ– Full-scale IQ
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Intelligence Testing Today
• Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children – How problems are solved
• Dynamic assessment approach– How quickly learning occurs
• Cognitive Assessment System– Predicts academic success
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
The Infant
• Developmental Quotients (DQ)– Bayley Scales: Ages 2-30 months– Correlations with Child IQ – low to 0– Useful for diagnostic purposes
• *Best predictors – From measures of information processing– E.g., attention, speed of habituation,
preference for novelty
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
The Child
• DQ does not predict later IQ
• IQ at age 4 predicts later IQ
• IQ gains– Parents foster achievement– Neither strict nor lax parenting
• IQ drops: Poverty– Cumulative deficit hypothesis
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
The Adolescent
• Brain growth spurt at age 11/12 (puberty)– Formal operational thinking– Improved memory and processing skills– Stability of IQ evident
• IQ score a good predictor of school achievement
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
The Adult
• Strong relationships between– IQ and occupational prestige– IQ and job performance– IQ and good health/longevity
• IQ decline by age 80 (longitudinal studies– C-S studies show cohort effects– Fluid IQ peaks at about age 24– Crystallized (verbal)unchanged until 80’s
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Predictors of Gains and Decline
• Decline: Poor health, unstimulating lifestyle
• Gain (or maintain)– Above average SES– Intact marriages– Intellectually capable spouses– Active lifestyles
• “Use it or lose it!”
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Wisdom
• Expert pragmatic knowledge – Rich procedural knowledge: strategies esp.
for handling conflict– Lifespan contextual knowledge– Relativism of values & life priorities– Recognition and management of
uncertainty– Age does not predict wisdom– Intelligence, personality & cognitive style
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Factors that Influence IQ
• Genes: accounts for half (Twin studies)• Home environment; higher SES helps
– Never underestimate the power of the environment
– Parental involvement & stimulation• Firstborn and smaller family are advantages• Racial and ethnic differences
– Different ability patterns– Culture bias in IQ test
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Mental Retardation
• Below-average intellectual functioning: IQ 75
• Limited adaptive behavior: before age 18– Self-care and social skills
• Below age-appropriate expectations
• Causes– Organic: e.g., Down syndrome– Cultural-familial: genes & environment
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Giftedness
• High IQ
• Special abilities: math, arts, leadership
• Renzuli: combination high IQ, creativity, and task commitment
• Can be identified by 18 months
• Terman’s “Termites”– Remarkable into adulthood– Well adjusted
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Creativity
• Ability to produce novel responses
• Divergent thinking: a variety of solutions
• Convergent thinking– Focusing on best solution– Measured by IQ test
• Ideational fluency
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Creativity in Childhood and Adolescence
• Freedom, originality, humor, violence, playfulness
• More fantasy and pretend play• More open to new experience• Little genetic influence:related to home
– Value nonconformity and independence– Encouragement of curiosity and
playfulness– Freedom to explore independently
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Creative Achievement in Adulthood
• Increases in the 20’s, 30’s, and early 40’s– Then declines
• Peak times vary by fields– Humanities scholars peak in 60’s– Artists peak in 30’s and 40’s– Scientists peak from 40’s to 70’s
• Enthusiasm and experience required.
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9
Figure 9.8
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. RiderChapter 9