Each person is a personality, with its own characteristics, character, life beliefs, goals and thoughts. To get to know him better, you need to get to know each other better through communication. In the process, which by facial expressions, gestures, manner of holding on, with the ability to listen, the level of his mental development and intelligence will also be revealed.
These are two characteristics that reflect the individual's skills for mental activity.
What is intelligence and mental development
They can definitely be improved and enhanced through self-improvement.
Mental development involves a complex of knowledge and skills, which was formed in the process of obtaining them.
Translated from Latin - cognition, understanding. And it means a set of needs for assessment, analysis and resolution of the situation. The term unites all cognitive processes of a person: memory, speech, thinking, imagination, attention, as well as perception.
It follows that, human intelligence is a certain system of skills that allows you to adapt to new circumstances, the learning process, based on the experience gained, through which various existing living conditions are managed.
The term “intelligence” can be revealed by three characteristics:
- Biological This is the ability to consciously adapt to the situation;
- Educational. Ability to learn.
- The structural approach. Its author Alfred Binet is a French psychologist. Intelligence is the ability to adapt means to an end. In other words, it is a set of specific skills.
We conclude that intelligence is determined by large-scale ability for rational action, rational thought process and skillful overcoming of life situations.
Now let's figure out what contributes to the development of mental abilities.
The ability to recognize the plot of your favorite movie, to understand the interlocutor in one word or to easily explain what the book is about are qualities that demonstrate mental abilities.
First, let’s define the term
This is the ability of an individual to recognize, analyze and accept the correct resolution of a situation. Mental abilities unite all cognitive processes of a person. These include: thinking, imagination, feeling, understanding and understanding.
Now we will analyze some points that affect the level of mental abilities.
There is no clear definition of this term, scientists argue about what the level depends on. But there are three criteria that determine it:
- Cognition. This is the ability to understand and analyze the speech of another individual or the comprehension of a read book, for example;
- Sanity. It is characterized by the ability to soberly assess the situation, highlight positive and negative points, and maintain objectivity in extreme circumstances;
- Memory. The ability to remember the necessary and important information. The ability to reproduce it at the required point in time.
We figured out what affects the level of mental abilities, and now we will learn how to measure them.
Measuring Intellectual Ability Through an IQ Test
Today, IQ is successfully practiced in many companies - testing of personnel. Children can also test their intellectual level. Yes, there is a lot of controversy, but still it takes place.
The answer is expressed as a result of passing the test, a figure. The average result varies from ninety to one hundred and ten. If the ratio is higher than one hundred thirty, then the person has the highest ability. All indicators down from the ninety mark show that intellectual abilities are below average.
But do not despair, because intellectual mental development can be enhanced.
How can I improve it?
Scientists have proved the factors contributing to their deterioration, such as long-term inaction, physical and psychological deviations, old age.
But there are ways to keep them at the proper level and improve:
- Solving puzzles, charades, crosswords, various tasks;
- Work with specially designed computer programs that improve brain performance;
- Hobbies, favorite pastime. For example, attending various trainings, developing games;
- Special sets of exercises that give physical activity.
If you receive an unsatisfactory IQ test result, don’t be upset. It is necessary to train the mind: this is the solution of logical problems, reading scientific and fiction books, learning languages. Need to engage in self-improvement constantly. And, of course, stick to a healthy diet and relax a lot.
Now let's talk about how to develop a child’s abilities
It is impossible to judge the mental development of a baby who was just born, because he is still incapable of action. He definitely has natural inclinations. These are the features laid down from birth in the form of physiological, anatomical, psychological properties that will reliably contribute to the development of talents in any activity. For example, a sense of rhythm and the ability to hear music for dancing, quick reaction and accuracy of motor movements for engaging in a particular sport, etc.
The makings are then expressed in the child's predisposition to any occupation (dancing, drawing, singing). This captivates the baby, and gives great pleasure.
To identify these talents, the child must be immersed in a certain process. Well, of course, their development will occur only with a regular, systematic lesson with a teacher.
But it should be noted that no matter what natural inclinations a child may possess, heights cannot be achieved without industriousness, discipline, will, and effort. Sometimes, people without talents achieve unprecedented results thanks to willpower and perseverance.
In principle, we have uncovered the question “the concept of the mental development of a child,” but something else can be added.
Scientists suggest that in a baby the basis of mental abilities is laid in 50-60%. Moreover, they are more creative in nature, which not everyone manages to develop. And only on the process of education will depend on how much they develop.
The mental abilities of a child are judged by the quantity and quality of knowledge gained. From an early age he cultivates the mind. Based on this, it can be concluded that the development of abilities depends on a number of social and biological components.
Mental education
This is the work of adults (parents, teachers) on the mental development of children, with the intentional intention of transmitting and communicating knowledge. Training to put into practice the acquired skills. The main task is the development of the active thinking process of preschoolers.
Consequently, mental development and upbringing are closely interconnected. It is very important not to overload the brain of the child. The mistakes made are imprinted on the future life of the preschooler. For example, the kid was deprived of games with constructor and building material. Subsequently, he will have a poorly developed spatial imagination, which will cause problems in the study of geometry and drawing.
Therefore, for successful study at school, the child needs to master independence, skills and knowledge.
To summarize:
- A person with birth receives a certain set of makings that help in the development of abilities;
- Abilities are displayed by the speed of obtaining skills for the successful execution of actions. Develop in the process of activity, which should be monitored by specialists;
- The environment plays a huge role in identifying and developing a child’s abilities. This is his environment: parents, kindergarten, school;
- Only determination, perseverance, diligence, willpower, desire will help to achieve success.
It is good when the child is healthy, but, unfortunately, mental retardation occurs. This is a trouble not only for parents, but also for the children themselves naturally. After all, they suffer from this at first in the kindergarten, and then in the walls of the school.
What is meant by mental retardation?
The retarded mental development of a person is a violation of intelligence, which, unfortunately, is irreversible.
There are two main clinical forms that differ in time of occurrence:
- Oligophrenia. It occurs due to internal damage to the brain of the child in the first years of life. Here there is a violation of the development of intelligence due to its underdevelopment;
- Dementia is the collapse of existing intelligence functions due to various brain diseases due to damage to its cortex after the first two, three years of life.
Talk about degrees of mental retardation
They differ in brain damage:
- Idiocy. Severe form. It is characterized by deep trauma to the cerebral cortex, which entails serious disturbances in psychological and physiological development. Among patients there are people who are unable to move, and also can not sit. They require constant care;
- Imbecility. The average degree of the disease. Distinguish between light and expressive form. The second severe, expressed, even in the absence of paralysis, is an underdeveloped motor function. Children are not able to jump and run, and, in general, have difficulty switching movements. Hands and fingers may not work, which limits them in the formation of self-service skills. Very bad memory. The light form allows you to develop imaginative thinking and primitive visual. Able to master simple self-service skills. They can be taught to write and count, as well as prepare for the upcoming work. They cannot live and function independently. But they have the ability to physical activity, contact with others, participation in social events organized by teachers. They can work under supervision;
- Debility. This is a mild form of backwardness. It is possible to teach children with such a diagnosis correctly, to speak, to build competently sentences. Well suited to teaching writing. But they make a lot of mistakes. Limited memory capabilities. They can develop voluntary attention, as well as elementary logical and figurative thinking.
It is necessary to recognize the symptoms of mental retardation in time. As a rule, this is noticeable, the child looks immature against the background of peers, his behavior and ability to master knowledge are poorly expressed.
In early childhood, symptoms are also pronounced. This is when the child is not interested in knowing the world around him, does not play. He begins to speak late, while speech and motor development are slowed down . These are obvious physical inconsistencies, a large head, an irregular shape of the skull, etc.
Children with significant intellectual disabilities are trained in special rehabilitation centers. It is very important for parents to continue to work with them at home. With mild forms of impairment, you can study in high school. The support of the family, teachers and class is important here.
When to see a doctor
If the development of your baby raises some questions, you should not wait, you need to go to the pediatrician. He will dispel doubts. If the doctor assures that everything is in order, but does not leave concern, ask for a referral to consult a specialist.
And finally, let's talk about the impact of mental activity on our psychological state.
Only positive. She is able to calm and concentrate a person. As a rule, people who are busy with the thought process are less prone to emotional breakdowns. The head is not clogged with bad thoughts, because it is all in work.
Active mental activity allows you to increase the level of thinking. A person thinks a lot, calculates something, solves problems. This helps to get rid of depression, and just get rid of negative thoughts.
It’s good when the head is loaded with positive thoughts. It must be understood that any mental activity must be realized in practice, that is, manifested as a result. This directly affects the psyche, because we must receive confirmation of the correctness of our thoughts. It is necessary to think and fulfill the dream.
It should be said only one thing, that there are no limits to perfection. You can increase the IQ level to a very old age, the main thing is not to remain inactive. It is necessary to develop mental abilities, and then life will be healthier, more interesting and richer.