What determines human intelligence? What is intelligence - signs of high intelligence and the most intelligent people in the world

The highest IQ level is for an Australian mathematician, the author of the Green-Tao theorem, his name is Terence Tao. Getting results above 200 points is a very rare occurrence, because most of the inhabitants of our planet barely score 100 points. People with extremely high IQs (over 150) can be found among Nobel laureates. It is these people who move science forward and make discoveries in various professional fields. Among them are the American writer Marilyn vos Savant, astrophysicist Christopher Hirata, phenomenal reader Kim Pik, who can read a page of text in a few seconds, Briton Daniel Tammet, who memorizes thousands of numbers, Kim Ung-Yong, who already studied at the university at the age of 3, and other famous personalities with amazing abilities.

How is a person's IQ formed?

IQ level is influenced by several factors, including heredity, environment (family, school, social status of a person). The test result is also significantly influenced by the age of the test taker. At the age of 26, as a rule, a person’s intelligence reaches its peak, and then only declines.

It is worth noting that some people with exceptionally high IQs found themselves completely helpless in everyday life. For example, Kim Pik could not fasten the buttons on his clothes. Moreover, not everyone had such talent from birth. Daniel Tammet gained his ability to memorize huge numbers of numbers after a terrible attack of epilepsy as a child.

IQ level above 140

People with IQ scores over 140 are owners of excellent creative abilities who have achieved success in various scientific fields. Famous people with IQ test scores of 140 or higher include Bill Gates and Stephen Hawking. Such geniuses of their era are known for their outstanding abilities; they make an incredibly high contribution to the development of knowledge and science, creating new inventions and theories. Such people make up only 0.2% of the total population.

IQ level from 131 to 140

Only three percent of the population has high IQ scores. Famous people with similar test results include Nicole Kidman and Arnold Schwarzenegger. These are successful people with high mental abilities; they can reach heights in various fields of activity, science and creativity. Want to see who is smarter - you or Schwarzenegger?

IQ level from 121 to 130

Only 6% of the population has an above average intellectual level. Such people are visible in universities, since they are usually excellent students in all disciplines, successfully graduate from universities, realize themselves in a variety of professions and achieve high results.

IQ level from 111 to 120

If you think that the average IQ level is around 110, then you are wrong. This indicator refers to above average intelligence. People with test scores between 111 and 120 are usually hard workers and strive for knowledge throughout their lives. There are about 12% of such people among the population.

IQ level from 101 to 110

IQ level from 91 to 100

If you took the test and the result was less than 100 points, do not be upset, because this is the average for a quarter of the population. People with such intelligence indicators do well in school and universities, they get jobs in middle management and other professions that do not require significant mental effort.

IQ level from 81 to 90

A tenth of the population has a below average intelligence level. Their IQ test scores range from 81 to 90. These people usually do well in school, but most often do not go on to higher education. They can work in the field of physical labor, in industries that do not require the use of intellectual abilities.

IQ level from 71 to 80

Another tenth of the population has an IQ level from 71 to 80, this is already a sign of mental retardation of a lesser degree. People with this result mainly attend special schools, but can also graduate from regular primary school with average grades.

IQ level from 51 to 70

About 7% of people have a mild form of mental retardation and an IQ level from 51 to 70. They study in special institutions, but are able to take care of themselves and are relatively full-fledged members of society.

IQ level from 21 to 50

About 2% of people on Earth have an intellectual development level of 21 to 50 points; they suffer from dementia, moderate mental retardation. Such people cannot learn, but are able to take care of themselves, but most often have guardians.

IQ level up to 20

People with severe mental retardation are not amenable to training and education, and have an intellectual development level of up to 20 points. They are under the care of other people because they cannot take care of themselves, and live in their own world. There are 0.2% of such people in the world.

Is it possible to develop intelligence? Neuroscientists have long answered this question in the affirmative. Your brain is plastic and can physically change depending on what you do. And even the smartest person has something to strive for. So don't waste your time! We've collected tips and exercises from our books to help you become even smarter.

1. Solve logic puzzles

You will find fascinating tasks for training logical thinking in the book by popular blogger Dmitry Chernyshev “What to do in the evening with your family at the dacha without the Internet.” Here are a few of them:

Answer:

This is a type of credit card. Notches about the borrowed goods were made simultaneously on both sticks. One was kept by the buyer, the other by the seller. This excluded fraud. When the debt was repaid, the sticks were destroyed.

Answer:

This is Morrison's shelter to protect people during bombing. Not everyone had basements in which to hide. For poor households, the device was free. 500,000 of these shelters were built by the end of 1941 and another 100,000 in 1943, when the Germans began using V-1 rockets. The shelter justified itself. According to statistics, in 44 houses equipped with such shelters that were heavily bombed, only three out of 136 residents died. Another 13 people were seriously injured and 16 were slightly injured.

Answer:

Look again at the condition of the task: there was no task to “continue the sequence.” If 1 = 5, then 5 = 1.

2. Train your memory

Until now, you have been trying to guess the number by choosing the average. This is an ideal strategy for a game in which the number was chosen at random. But in our case, the number was not chosen in random order. We deliberately chose a number that will be difficult for you to find. The main lesson of game theory is that you need to put yourself in the shoes of the other player. We put ourselves in your shoes and assumed that you would first name the number 50, then 25, then 37 and 42.

What would be your final guess? Is this number 49? Congratulations! Yourself, not you. You've fallen into the trap again! We guessed the number 48. In fact, all these discussions about the average number from the interval were aimed precisely at misleading you. We wanted you to choose the number 49.

The point of our game is not to show you how cunning we are, but to clearly illustrate what exactly makes any situation a game: you must take into account the goals and strategies of other players.

5. Do math

Lomonosov believed that mathematics puts the mind in order. And indeed it is. One of the ways to develop intelligence is to make friends with the world of numbers, graphs and formulas. If you want to try this method, the book Beauty Squared will help you, where the most complex concepts are described in a simple and engaging way. A short excerpt from there:

“In 1611, the astronomer Johannes Kepler decided to find himself a wife. The process did not start very well: he rejected the first three candidates. Kepler would have taken a fourth wife if he had not seen the fifth, who seemed “modest, thrifty and capable of loving adopted children.” But the scientist behaved so indecisively that he met with several more women who did not interest him. Then he finally married the fifth candidate.

According to the mathematical theory of “optimal stopping,” in order to make a choice, it is necessary to consider and reject 36.8 percent of possible options. And then stop at the first one, which turns out to be better than all the rejected ones.

Kepler had 11 dates. But he could meet with four women, and then propose to the first of the remaining candidates who he liked more than those whom he had already seen. In other words, he would immediately choose the fifth woman and save himself from six unsuccessful meetings. The theory of “optimal stopping” is also applicable in other areas: medicine, energy, zoology, economics, etc.”

6. Learn to play a musical instrument

Psychologist, author of the book “We Are the Music” Victoria Williamson says that the Mozart effect is just a myth. Listening to classical music will not improve your IQ. But if you take up music yourself, you will help your brain work better. This is confirmed by the following experiment:

“Glenn Schellenberg has conducted a number of detailed analyzes of the relationship between music lessons and IQ in children. In 2004, he randomly assigned 144 six-year-old children from Toronto to four groups: the first group received keyboard lessons, the second group received singing lessons, the third group received acting classes, and the fourth group was a control group that received no additional activities. To be fair, after the study, children in the control group were offered the same activities as the others.

The training lasted 36 weeks in a designated school. All children took IQ tests during the summer holidays before these classes began and at the end of the study. Comparable age and socioeconomic status criteria were used.

After a year, a large majority of the children performed better on the IQ test, which makes sense since they were a year older. However, in the two music groups, the increase in IQ was greater than in the acting and control groups.”

7. Practice mindfulness meditation

Meditation not only helps reduce stress levels, but also helps develop memory, creativity, reaction, attention and self-control. More about this method in the book “Mindfulness”. Advice from it:

“Have you noticed that the older you get, the faster time passes? The reason is that with age we acquire habits, certain patterns of behavior and live on “automatic”: the autopilot guides us when we have breakfast, brush our teeth, go to work, sit down in the same chair every time... As a result, life passes past, and we feel unhappy.

Try a simple experiment. Buy some chocolate. Break off a small piece from it. Look at it as if you were seeing it for the first time. Pay attention to all the breaks, texture, smell, color. Put this piece in your mouth, but don't swallow it right away, let it slowly melt on your tongue. Try the whole bouquet of flavors. Then slowly swallow the chocolate, try to feel how it flows down the esophagus, notice the movements of the palate and tongue.

Agree, the sensations are not at all the same as if you simply ate a candy bar without thinking. Try this exercise with different foods, and then with your usual activities: be mindful at work, while walking, getting ready for bed, and so on.”

8. Learn to think outside the box

A creative approach will help you find a solution even in a situation that seems hopeless to most. book author"Rice Storm"I am sure that anyone can train creativity. First, try using Leonardo da Vinci's method:

“Leonardo da Vinci’s way of developing ideas was to close his eyes, completely relax, and scribble random lines and scribbles on a piece of paper. Then he opened his eyes and looked for images and nuances, objects and phenomena in the drawing. Many of his inventions were born from such sketches.

Here is an action plan on how you can use Leonardo da Vinci's method in your work:

Write the problem down on a piece of paper and think about it for a few minutes.

Relax. Give your intuition the opportunity to create images that reflect the current situation. You don't need to know what the drawing will look like before you draw it.

Give shape to your task by defining its boundaries. They can be of any size and take the shape you want.

Practice drawing unconsciously. Let the lines and scribbles dictate how you draw and arrange them.

If the result does not satisfy you, take another sheet of paper and make another drawing, and then another - as many as needed.

Explore your drawing. Write down the first word that comes to mind regarding each image, each squiggle, line, or structure.

Link all the words together by writing a short note. Now see how what you wrote relates to your task. Have new ideas emerged?

Be attentive to the questions that arise in your mind. For example: “What is this?”, “Where did this come from?” If you feel the need to find answers to specific questions, then you are on the right path leading to solving the problem.”

9. Learn foreign languages

According to researchers, it promotes brain development and helps maintain mental clarity even into adulthood. In the guide by polyglot Susanna Zaraiskaya you will find 90 effective tips on how to learn new foreign languages ​​easily and fun. Here are three recommendations from the book:

• Listen to songs in the language you're learning while you drive, clean your home, cook, take care of flowers, or do other things. You will become immersed in the rhythms of the language even when listening passively. The main thing is to do this regularly.

• The nonprofit Planet Read uses Bollywood music videos in its literacy program in India, subtitled in the same language. The subtitle format is the same as in karaoke, that is, the word currently being heard is highlighted. Easy access to such videos doubles the number of first-graders who master reading. And all due to the fact that viewers naturally synchronize audio and video. The way India fights illiteracy will allow you to compare what you hear with what you see.

• Who said that drama is incompatible with the table of irregular verbs? Soap operas can be a really fun way to learn a new language. The storylines are simple, and the acting is so expressive that even if you don't know all the words, you'll still be aware of what's going on just by following the characters' emotions.

10. Make up stories

This is another way to become more creative and develop flexible thinking. Don't know where to start? In the notebook “642 ideas of what to write about” you will find many tips. Your job is to continue the stories and turn them into complete stories. Here are some tasks from the book:

• You meet a girl who can close her eyes and see the entire Universe. Tell about her.

• Try to fit the whole life of a person into one sentence.

• Take an article from a recent newspaper. Write down ten words or phrases that caught your eye. Using these words, write a poem that begins: “What if...”

• Your cat dreams of world domination. She figured out how to switch bodies with you.

• Write a story that begins like this: “The weird thing started when Fred bought a house for his miniature pigs...”

• Explain to a gold miner from 1849 how email works.

• An unknown force threw you inside the computer. You need to get out.

• Choose any object on your desk (pen, pencil, eraser, etc.) and write a note of gratitude to it.

11. Get enough sleep!

Your ability to learn depends on the quality of your sleep. Interesting fact from the book “The Brain in Sleep”:

“Scientists have discovered that different stages of sleep are designed for different types of learning. For example, slow-wave sleep is important for mastering tasks involving factual memory, such as memorizing dates for a history exam. But dream-rich REM sleep is necessary for mastering what is associated with procedural memory - how something is done, including the development of new behavioral strategies.

Psychology professor Carlisle Smith says: “We spent a month cutting out blocks from which we built a maze for mice, and then for ten days we recorded their brain activity around the clock. Those mice that showed greater intelligence in running a maze also demonstrated greater brain activity in the REM sleep phase. I myself have never doubted that sleep and learning are connected, but now enough data has accumulated for others to become interested in this issue.”

12. Don't neglect physical education

Sport has a positive effect on our intellectual abilities. Here's what evolutionary biologist John Medina says about this in his book Brain Rules:

“All sorts of tests have shown that physical activity throughout life leads to amazing improvements in cognitive processes, in contrast to a sedentary lifestyle. Adherents of physical education outperformed lazy people and couch potatoes in terms of long-term memory, logic, attention, problem-solving ability, and even the so-called fluid intelligence.”

More books about the development of intelligence- .

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Have you ever wondered what this “concept of intelligence” is, or do you think that it is inherent only to rare talented people, or generally only to geniuses? And how can you measure and understand what kind of intelligence each individual person has? I will say right away that there are still no clear answers to this question. There is also no single generally accepted definition of intelligence in the scientific world. Why? This is because intelligence is such a multifaceted and complex concept that it is very difficult to describe it, to put it into some kind of framework of a certain phrase. However, I will try to convey the essence of this concept for you.

The concept of intelligence. What is intelligence?

In its most general form, intelligence is the ability to acquire, process, reproduce, and use knowledge in a meaningful way. You and I are exposed to a huge number of streams of information, both in terms of the method of perception (visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory) and in information content.

Every day we see thousands of images: objects, people, settings, nature, objects; we communicate and perceive the feelings and thoughts of another person, we think about our own affairs. Countless streams of information come to us. And we somehow process it, weed out the unnecessary, highlight the main thing, analyze, draw conclusions, remember and do much, much more.

Agree, this does not always work out well; we do not always achieve the necessary and desired solutions. We don’t always come up with important and valuable conclusions for ourselves; not all of us can quickly and clearly perform these mental operations. In addition, we use all the information we receive in different ways. Some people successfully apply it in practice and get beneficial results, while others cannot extract anything practical from the abundance of their knowledge. All these differences constitute the essence of our most common abilities - intellectual ones.

The concept of intelligence is inextricably linked with interaction, development and decision making. Intelligence manifests itself where something interacts with something or someone (people with people, people with technology, people with numbers or computers), where development or transformation takes place (a person builds a house, trains some of his skills) and most importantly, where is the person makes decisions .

How are decision making and the concept of intelligence related?

Decision making and intelligence are inseparable. Wherever decisions need to be made, intelligence is present. And where there is no decision-making, there is no intelligence.

If you automatically drive a car along a familiar road, then intelligence is practically not involved. But where the road is difficult, new, where you need to skillfully maneuver, you constantly make decisions on how to move, assess the situation, choose the best path. These are manifestations of intelligence.

Whether we are solving a math problem, arranging a home space, choosing a school for a child, or leading a group of people, we always make small and large decisions in these actions.

Intelligence itself is realized and embodied in many other abilities:

• Education
• Cognition
• Logical thinking
• Systematization of knowledge
• Analysis and synthesis
• Application of knowledge
• Finding connections and associations
• Thinking
• Planning
• Problem solving
• Understanding

As you can see, it is difficult to unambiguously answer the question “What is intelligence”; the concept of intelligence does not accurately describe its diverse essence. And another significant difficulty is related to the fact that until now intelligence has been perceived for the most part as mathematical and logical abilities. But this is far from the truth.

Intelligence is much broader than the ability to think logically. Psychologist Howard Gardner described and continues to develop the theory of multiple intelligences several years ago, emphasizing that we have at least 9 different types. This includes musical, linguistic, spatial and other types, which we will talk about later.

Features of multiple intelligences

As it turns out, most of us have a well-developed intellect, but only one or two of these ten. The good news is that everyone can call themselves an intellectual, albeit of one kind. And the second good news is that each of these intelligences can be developed by raising your overall level.

The concept of human intelligence includes an individual’s ability to process cognition, learning, comprehension, solving various problems, acquiring experience and the ability to apply acquired knowledge in practice.

Today, Piaget's theory is recognized as the leading theory explaining the formation of intelligence. He identified several stages in this process depending on age.

Stage 1 sensorimotor– when the child develops his first reflexes and skills. At the age of over 12 months, children begin to understand the reality of the world around them, and they develop their first concepts of their own. Characteristic is setting a goal and striving to achieve it. This behavior indicates that the first signs of intelligence are appearing.

Stage 2 is called “pre-operation”. A child under 7 years old already demonstrates symbolic intuitive thinking and can construct a solution to a certain problem without putting it into practice. Obvious concepts have been formed about the world around us.

3 is the stage of specific operations. Reaching the age of 7-12 years, the child begins to use his own knowledge about the world around him, and the ability to perform clear operations with certain objects develops.

Stage 4 – stage of formal operations. After the age of 12, children develop the ability to think abstractly and then formally, which is characteristic of mature intelligence. We develop our own image of the world around us and accumulate information.

Society undoubtedly has a significant influence on a person's intelligence through language, interpersonal relationships, etc.

In addition to Piaget's theory, the concept of information processing was proposed. Any information after entering the human brain is processed, stored, and transformed. As you grow older, your ability to switch attention and solve abstract problems improves.

At the beginning of the 20th century, various versions of tests were developed to assess intelligence. For children under 13 years of age, the Simon-Binet test was used, later improved into the Stanford-Binet scale.

The German psychologist Stern proposed a method for determining the level of intelligence using the ratio of the child’s intellectual age to his real age (IQ). One of the popular methods remains the method using progressive Raven matrices.

These techniques have not lost their relevance today. It must be said that, according to research, it is quite rare for people with high intelligence, as determined by tests, to be fully realized in life.

Structure of intelligence

Modern psychologists put forward different theories regarding the fact that mental abilities can have different structures: some consider intelligence to be a complex of individual brain abilities, others hold the view that intelligence is based on a single general ability of the brain for mental activity.

An intermediate position is occupied by the theory of “fluid” and “crystallized intelligence”, based on the fact that when solving various problems one must either adapt to new conditions (fluid intelligence) or use skills and past experience (crystallized intelligence).

The first type of intelligence is genetically determined and declines after 40 years, the second is formed under the influence of the environment and does not depend on age.

Research proves that an individual's intelligence is not only genetically programmed, but also depends on many factors - the intellectual climate in the family, the profession of parents, race, gender, the extent of social interactions in childhood, health and nutrition, methods of raising a child. Since intelligence is closely related to memory, the development of the latter forms intelligence.

Eysenck defined the following structure of intelligence: how intense are the intellectual operations performed by an individual, how much does he strive to find a mistake and his persistence in this process. These elements form the basis of an IQ test.

Spearman believed that intelligence consists of a general factor (G), other group qualities - mechanical, verbal, computational and special abilities (S), which are determined by profession. And Gardner put forward a theory of the multiplicity of intelligence, according to which it can have various manifestations (verbal, musical, logical, spatial, mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal).

Types of intelligence

Human intelligence has many types, each of which can be trained and developed throughout life.

Types of intelligence are logical, physical, verbal, creative spatial, emotional, musical, social, spiritual. Each of them is responsible for different processes and is developed through appropriate activities. The higher the intelligence, the longer the ability to work and love for life lasts.

Intelligence levels

As you know, the level of intellectual development of an individual is assessed using special IQ tests on a scale that has a maximum score of 160 points.

Approximately half of the world's population has average intelligence, that is, the IQ is between 90 and 110 points.

But with constant exercise it can be raised by about 10 points. About a quarter of earthlings have a high intellectual level, that is, an IQ greater than 110 points, and the remaining 25% have a low intellectual level with an IQ less than 90.

Of people with a high level of intelligence, about 14.5% score 110-120 points, 10% score 140 points, and only 0.5% of people have an intelligence above 140 points.

Because assessment tests are designed for different ages, a college-educated adult and a child may show the same IQ. The level of intelligence and its activity, according to the findings of psychologists, remains unchanged throughout life.

The intellectual development of children up to the age of 5 years is identical, then spatial intelligence begins to predominate in boys, and verbal abilities in girls.

For example, there are many more famous male mathematicians than female mathematicians. Intelligence levels also vary across races. For representatives of the African-American race it averages 85, for Europeans 103, for Jews 113.

Thinking and intelligence

The concepts of thinking and intelligence are very close. To put it simply, the concept of intelligence means “mind,” that is, the property and abilities of a person, but the process of thinking is “comprehension.”

So, these determinants correspond to different aspects of a single phenomenon. Having intelligence, you have thinking potential, and intelligence is realized in the process of thinking. It is not for nothing that the human species is called “Homo sapiens” - reasonable man. And the loss of reason leads to the loss of the essence of man.

Development of intelligence

Since ancient times, people have come up with ways to develop intelligence. These are various games: puzzles, chess, puzzles, backgammon. In the 20th century, they became computer intellectual games that train memory and increase concentration.

Mathematics and exact sciences significantly contribute to the development of intelligence, helping to improve logical and abstract thinking, deductive and analytical abilities. Exact science classes accustom the brain to order and have a positive effect on the structuring of thinking. Enrichment with new knowledge and increased erudition also stimulate the development of human intelligence.

How can you develop intelligence? There are several options. For example, according to the Japanese system, it is necessary to solve simple mathematical problems for a while and read aloud. It is also very useful to participate in trainings, education, and various group games.

In the modern world, it is very important to develop emotional intelligence - a person’s ability to understand and comprehend his emotions and the ability to generate them in such a way as to increase the intensity of thinking and intellectual growth.

These data are developed to improve the regulation of one’s own emotional state, as well as the ability to influence the environment, which regulates the emotions of other people. This, in turn, serves as the key to success in human activity.

When it comes to an intelligent person, the imagination imagines a mathematician who solves questions that are incomprehensible to most, who is able to solve a problem in his head so quickly that an ordinary person does not even have time to write it down. This represents the traditional idea of ​​reason as a unique skill associated with abstract thought.

In 1994, a psychologist proposed an idea that would change society's typical understanding of intelligence: the theory of multiple intelligences. According to it, there is not one, but 8 types of intelligence, which develop differently in each individual. “This is the main challenge to education,” says the psychologist.

Types of intelligence are divided into 8 categories:

1. Linguistic.
2. Logical-mathematical.
3. Visual-spatial.
4. Musical.
5. Bodily-kinesthetic.
6. Intrapersonal (existential).
7. Interpersonal (social).
8. Naturalistic.

According to Gardner's intelligence types, a person has an innate tendency to perform certain actions. This determines what type a particular person should be classified as.

Therefore, some people are very smart in the field of mathematics, but may not be so good when it comes to interpersonal relationships. An exceptional musician may not be as gifted at expressing himself through words.

Teachers must understand students: strengths, weaknesses, vulnerable areas, ability to adapt, and also take into account which type of intelligence each of them belongs to and build learning on this basis.

Gardner believes that the human mind is made up of a set of skills that allow us to overcome personal problems and cope with difficulties. To solve various issues, it is necessary to understand that the human mind is diverse and it is important to choose a development path that suits a certain type of personality.

Linguistic type of intelligence

These are people who love and know how to “juggle with words.” They learn to speak, read and write early. They understand complex text easily and are very good when it comes to expressing their own thoughts.

For example, people with a linguistic type of intelligence find it easier to follow instructions when assembling furniture if they are presented in text form rather than in the form of a diagram. Any foreign language is easy for them, so among polyglots, linguistic intelligence predominates among all types of intelligence.

In order to develop, they need to read a lot and express their own thoughts on paper. This could be anything: a diary, a blog, Twitter, art, and play word games such as crosswords and Word Maker. Learning a foreign language will be an excellent workout.

Logical-mathematical intelligence

People with a predominant logical-mathematical type of intelligence tend to solve abstract problems, make calculations and easily count the number of objects.

For example, when you need to divide the amount of a check for lunch, there is always a person in the company who can accurately do this in his head. It is very likely that this is the owner of exactly this type of intelligence.

To develop, the logical-mathematical type of intelligence can solve Sudoku, play games, chess and cope with everyday mathematical problems in the head.

Career: accountant, engineer, detective, analyst, financier, programmer.

Visual-spatial intelligence

Its owners are able to navigate the terrain very well and easily understand drawings and instructions in the form of diagrams.

They are aware of visual details in their surroundings that other people do not notice. This is especially true for the structure of buildings and their location.

To develop visual-spatial intelligence, you need to create a new route every day (for example, to work) or try to find your way in an unfamiliar area using a map, play puzzles and create models.

Career: Graphic design artist, aviation specialist, architect and surgeon.

Musical type of intelligence

People with a musical type of intelligence are easily recognized by their habit of constantly tapping a melody from their heads with their fingers. They easily master musical instruments, memorize and reproduce music.

To develop, they need to listen to music, and the more varied it is, the better. And, of course, it’s worth learning to play a musical instrument.

Bodily-kinesthetic type of intelligence

People of the bodily-kinesthetic type of intelligence have never been accused of clumsiness. They are very aware of their own body, so they have good coordination and are very mobile.

This can be observed in dancers and some athletes, such as gymnasts.

To develop this type, you need to dance a lot, study dance that helps train coordination or do yoga.

Career: physiotherapist, circus, surgeon, personal fitness trainer.

Intrapersonal intelligence

A high degree of awareness, emotional restraint and the ability to reason sensibly characterize such people. Those with an intrapersonal type of intelligence (which also means an existential type) are distinguished by their ability to deeply perceive their own self. They perfectly understand and control their own emotions, thoughts and motives for actions. Individuals with strong intrapersonal intelligence see personal flaws and strengths, which allows them to work on their emotional lives, make decisions and set goals in accordance with their own individuality.

It is necessary to focus on expressing your own thoughts to people with an intrapersonal type of intelligence, which means reflecting and writing down your thoughts in a diary, blogging, practicing meditation, reading articles on psychology and human intelligence.

Career: coaching, spirituality, ethics, entrepreneurship, politics, philosophy, psychology, psychiatry.

Social intelligence

The interpersonal type of intelligence, otherwise called social, gives its owners excellent communication skills. These people are good at understanding others: their emotions, needs, intentions and goals.

They are always in the spotlight, often becoming leaders and the soul of the company.

To develop themselves, people with interpersonal intelligence need to take part in group activities that encourage cooperation, such as team sports.

Career: education, human resources, social sphere, consulting, psychiatry, management, politics, mentoring.

Naturalistic type of intelligence

People with this type of intelligence love and are able to understand nature well, distinguish, classify, and recognize patterns between species of plants and animals.

Such qualities are usually characteristic of biologists and people who love to garden.

To develop a naturalistic type of intelligence, you need to read a lot of books on biology, grow plants and care for animals.

Career: veterinary medicine, archeology, ecology, tourism, forestry, farming, geology, biology.

There are 4 main points of Gardner's theory about types of intelligence:

1. Every person has all of the listed types of intelligence. But there is only one dominant.
2. Most people have the potential to develop in each type of intelligence.
3. Intelligence works in totality.
4. There are many ways to interpret intelligence in each category.

Despite the fact that a person has a dominant certain type of intelligence, everyone has a tendency towards others to varying degrees. Skills can be developed even if you are born with a talent for other skills. Gardner's theory also points to the flexibility of intelligence types, which means the ability to change over time in each person.