Intelligence Isn’t Measured By School Grades
In the early 1980s, psychologist Howard Gardner published a book entitled Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences.
In it, he described his theory of how there are many facets of intelligence, rather than intellect being dependent on just one factor.
He put forth the idea that human intelligence can’t be measured by one mean standard, but instead has many different types of cognitive abilities.
This is why some people who are extraordinarily good in certain subjects do poorly in others, and why school tests cannot accurately measure how smart a student is.
We’re all smart in different ways, and his model of 9 types of intelligence allows us to determine our strengths and weaknesses.
By doing so, we can put special focus on the areas we’d like to improve, without feeling that there’s anything wrong with us for not being innately gifted in those facets.
These 9 types of intelligence are…
1. Interpersonal Intelligence
Some folks just naturally relate well to other people. These are the types who can “work a room” with ease.
They tend to be popular and well liked by most, and can influence others easily.
They can read others like books, and pick up on even the subtlest social cues (like body language) to sense what other people are feeling.
If we were to use a high school stereotype, an interpersonally intelligent teenager would not only be one of the most popular kids in school – they’d likely also be valedictorian.
They’re able to relate to others easily by matching the other person’s energy and wavelength, able to communicate verbally as well as nonverbally.
They are naturally diplomatic and tactful, and it’s not unusual for them to be the “peacemakers” in their social circles.
Their natural charm and ability to negotiate means they can thrive in leadership roles, whether as teachers, lawyers, politicians, or social influencers.
2. Intrapersonal Intelligence
Although Intrapersonal intelligence might seem like the polar opposite to the Interpersonal type, these two actually have many aspects in common.
People who have an uncanny ability to understand their own emotions tend to be very empathic toward others as well. By understanding themselves, they can understand others.
Makes sense, right?
These people tend to be very attuned to their own thoughts and behavioral patterns. As such, when they see similar behavior in others, they can empathize with them and see beneath the surface to where their actions originate.
This makes many intrapersonal types very caring and nurturing, and they can often be found doing work that allows them to help others.
Although many of them are introverted and shy, they have a tendency to be incredibly aware and creative as well.
Many writers, artists, and musicians score highly in Intrapersonal intelligence, likely because they’re able to tap into aspects of themselves that most people aren’t even aware of.
3. Spatial Intelligence
If I asked you to picture a red rose, can you “see” it clearly in your mind’s eye? What about envisioning your bedroom?
Are you able to imagine all sides of a dice, picturing it being turned around so you can see every part of it?
People who have high spatial intelligence have a very easy time envisioning things in three dimensions.
They tend to be very creative, have sharp imaginations, and can consider every aspect of a concept – often just by musing about it.
When they were small children, they probably loved to do mazes, build their own LEGO creations, and put together intricate puzzles, or were reprimanded for daydreaming.
They likely loved to draw, and may have developed a penchant for reading mysteries as they got older… mostly to see if they could solve it before the end of the book.
4. Naturalist Intelligence
Those who have highly developed naturalist skills tend to be most at home when they’re outside.
These are the people who can spot a ripe raspberry from 30 feet away, or identify different tree species at a glance.
They delight in spending time with animals, and seem happiest when squidging their bare toes in sand or moss.
Some of these people may have developed a strong kinship with the land around them, either as stewards, or even farmers.
They may delight in growing their own produce, and take special joy in cultivating different vegetables and herbs, and then cooking with them. Farm to table is a lifestyle for them, not a passing hipster trend.
These are the people you want with you on a camping trip. They can discriminate between beneficial and toxic plants by identifying minute differences, and tell you whether a storm is rolling in just by glancing at the clouds.
5. Musical Intelligence
Just about all of us know someone who’s either constantly tapping their feet, drumming on any available surface, or humming/singing to themselves.
Those with high musical intelligence have a highly developed sense of tone, pitch, rhythm, and timbre, and can usually tell if a musical instrument needs tuning just because it sounds “off.”
They may have very discriminating taste in the bands they listen to, and may be highly sensitive to sound.
Some are prodigies who can play any song by ear, while others may be synaesthetic and love how different notes can make them see/feel color or taste particular flavors.
6. Logical/Mathematical Intelligence
Those who excel in calculus and algebra classes without tearing their hair out likely have pretty high mathematical/logical intelligence types.
Most of these people can do intermediate to advanced math problems in their heads, while others take hours to figure out the same assignments.
They may see patterns where others just see noise, and tend to have advanced deductive reasoning skills.
Some may take part in strategy games, while others will do math problems just for fun. Yes, those people actually exist.
They may not be the most emotional types, as they prefer logic and rationality, and they’re often found working in STEM fields.
7. Existential Intelligence
Have you ever met a person who just goes about their daily life not paying much attention to the hows and whys of existence?
Those who are perfectly content to focus on things like celebrity gossip, fashion, or sports, without tackling any deep questions about the meaning of life/death/existence as a whole?
A lot of people are uncomfortable with such topics, but those whose existential intelligence type is highly developed are on the opposite end of the spectrum.
They might spend hours lost in thought, considering all the aspects of human existence.
They’ll mull and muse and journal about spiritual topics, particularly about who we were before we were born, and what happens after we transition out of this life, into the realm beyond death.
These people are often considered intense by those who prefer to bob around life’s shallow end, but they tend to be sensitive, considerate souls with an abundance of compassion and empathy.
8. Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence
Although you might assume that this intelligence type has to do with extraordinary athletic ability, that isn’t necessarily the case.
It’s less about strength and stamina, and more to do with hand-eye coordination, and the ability to use all kinds of different physical skills.
Sure, dancers, martial arts professionals, and athletes tend to score very highly in this type, but so do knitters, fine artists, neurosurgeons, and classical musicians.
To have high scores in bodily/kinesthetic intelligence means that one has very fine motor control, as well as a strong sense of timing. One’s mind-body connection is highly attuned, allowing for quick reaction times and the ability to multitask effectively.
9. Linguistic Intelligence
People with high linguistic intelligence tend to revel in puns, and may have been called “word nerds” or “walking dictionaries” at some point in time.
They often have very extensive vocabularies, enjoy reading many different literature genres, and appreciate people able to express themselves eloquently.
They may also have a strong aptitude for other languages, often speaking two or three in addition to their mother tongue.
Those who score highly in this type often enjoy crosswords, anagrams, and other word puzzles, and you can rest assured they will kick your butt at Scrabble.
They might enjoy writing as much as reading, and have kept diaries and journals from earliest childhood onwards.
Having a high linguistic intelligence score doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re great at conversations or public speaking: that depends on whether they have a strong inter- or intrapersonal intelligence type.
The former might prefer to express themselves in written letters, while the latter prefer to talk about things.
