MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCE

Multiple Intelligence

[Name f Institute]Multiple Intelligence

Introduction

The concept of multiple intelligences goes back as far as Edward L. Thorndike (1920) who proposed social intelligence as a type of intelligence distinct from verbal/academic intelligence. Thorndike characterized social intelligence as the ability to understand and manage people and to act wisely in human relations. Decades later, J. P. Guilford (1967) postulated that there were dozens of facets to intelligence in his structure of intellect model, which included 30 dimensions representing social intelligence. Guilford suggested that the ability to interpret facial and gestural expressions, the ability to perceive others' intentions, and skill in following a sequence of events in social interaction, were all separate components of social, or behavioral, intelligence. Guilford and his colleagues constructed measures of these multiple domains of intelligence, many of which were nonverbal in nature (to rule out the overlap with verbal intelligence), and some of which included elements of understanding emotions and feelings (Riggio, 2010).

In the 1980s, Howard Gardner (1983) proposed his theory of multiple intelligences, which included intrapersonal forms of intelligence. Gardner (1995) himself has explored connections between these domains of intelligence and leadership. A key to Gardner's notion of effective leadership hinges on a leader's ability to communicate and connect with different constituents, using vision and storytelling to affect their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. One example of an effective leader of this sort is former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. In short, Gardner believes there are multiple forms of intelligence that are important for leadership effectiveness (Riggio, 2010).

Robert J. Sternberg (1985) argued for a tri-archic theory of intelligence, which includes analytical (closest to verbal/academic intelligence), creative, and practical (similar to social and emotional intelligences) forms of intelligence. Sternberg (2002) has argued that practical intelligence is particularly important for leaders to possess. Although there is disagreement about the structure of intelligence and its various forms, ranging from three types (Sternberg) to dozens of forms (Guilford), it is generally accepted that verbal/academic intelligence, what is measured by standard intelligence tests and IQ scores, only assesses a portion of the broad domain of intelligence (Riggio, 2010).

Top Emotional Intelligence

The top three intelligence styles are

Intrapersonal - Myself Smart

Kinaesthetic - Body Smart

Naturalistic - Nature Smart

Effect of Intelligence on Communication styles

Interpersonal intelligence is the ability to understand other people, interact with them and establish empathy and rapport. To discern, understand what happens to someone else in a given context and act appropriately in relation to ...