Geographic Metaphor

Natalie To Psyc 195

San Jose State University

Geographic Metaphor

Like a geographic map

Attempt to develop a region for the mind

Geographic Metaphor

History: Frank Joseph GallPhrenology : pattern of bumps and swells on the

skull associated with one’s pattern of abilities

“Ability factors”

Developed statistical means

Identifying Abilities Factors of Intelligence

Spearman’s two-factor theory (1927) General ability – “g”Specific abilities – “s”

One or Many?Godfrey Thomson (1939)

“g” Plus skills and motivation

Louis L. Thurston (1938) Intelligence comprised of 7 distinct but

interrelated factors (verbal comp., verbal fluency, number, memory, perceptual speed, inductive reasoning, and spatial visualization)

One or Many?

J. P. Guilford (1956)Structure-of-intellect theory with 120 distinct

abilities Involved content, cognitive product, and mental

operation aspect Pro:

Test construction Challenges:

Intercorrelation of ability factors are too many

Hierarchical Theories of Intelligence

General intelligence is at the top and more specific abilities are lower in the hierarchy

Horn & Cattell (1966)– Nine abilities at the top but the two best known are fluid and crystallized intelligence

Carroll (1993) – Three stratum theory

Hierarchical Theories of Intelligence

Guttman (1954)Radex model of intelligence

“g” at the center The harder the mental energy, the closer to “g” it

was The further away, the easier the mental ability Tests that were more similar to each other were

located close to each other

Conclusion

Distinct abilities that can be measured by mental tests

How people differ in their degree to which the possess these abilities

Organization

Cannot explain what an ability factor isWhat is mental energy?

ReferencesCianciolo, A. T. & Sternberg R. J. (2004).

Intelligence: A Brief History. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.