Every parent dreams that his children will be happy and find their place in life. Additional classes in music, dancing, sports, foreign languages - mothers and fathers are ready for everything so that their child is a comprehensively educated person. In itself, such zeal is commendable, but if the child does not "pull" on the ideal image? Here you need to look at the inclinations and interests of the baby and develop them. Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory can help.
Intelligence, what is it?
Intelligence from the Latin language means knowledge. The ability of a person to adapt to the environment on the basis of experience, to analyze and apply the information received in life, to think and strive for knowledge - all these are functions of intelligence.
Until recently, it was believed that intelligence has a common cognitive function. In this connection, the training was based on the provision of information that the student must learn. But it’s not a secret for anyone that school performance is distributed roughly like this: 10% are excellent students, 40% are drummers, 50% are three-year-olds. It turns out that only ten out of a hundred children absorb knowledge in full. The rest are either lazy or cannot, why? Howard Gardner tried to answer this question.
Multiple intelligence theory
The American psychologist argued that measuring intelligence by one parameter does not give a complete picture (IQ tests are meant). He believed that intelligence is predisposed to creativity, cognition and creation. Howard Gardner suggested that a person has a certain mentality, which is manifested in his inclinations and interests. An individual intellectual process leads to behavior that is peculiar only to this person. Therefore, training should also take these differences into account.
The mind structure according to Howard Gardner has several abilities independent from each other. However, they do not exist in their pure form, all structures of intelligence are closely interconnected. In life, we observe a predominance of some type of intelligence. Howard Gardner conditionally divided it into the following components:
- linguistic;
- logical and mathematical;
- visual spatial;
- bodily-kinesthetic;
- musical;
- naturalistic;
- existential;
- interpersonal.
Linguistic and musical intelligence
If the child is dominated by linguistic intelligence, then he loves to listen and has a competent speech. The ability to feel the shades of words, correctly apply them in speech, beautifully express thoughts when writing - all these are characteristics of linguistic intelligence. Howard Gardner is confident that a person with this type of thinking can easily be a writer, politician, screenwriter, translator, journalist, playwright, proofreader.
Musical intelligence is not limited to craving for music and musical abilities. The author of the theory notes that people who do not have a musical ear can feel the rhythm, timbre and pitch of sound, because this type of mind is based on tonal memory. If a child easily remembers melodies, likes to listen to music and sing, unconsciously taps the rhythm, then with a high probability his musical intellect prevails. With such abilities, it can be realized in the professions of performers, singers, composers, musicians, music critics, editors, etc.
Logical-mathematical and visual-spatial intelligence
Logical and mathematical intelligence is distinguished by the development of abstract thinking. A high level of abstraction is available to mathematicians and physicists. Most people are limited to school math. Therefore, if a child is interested in numbers, calculations, logic and analysis, then this indicates a high degree of abstract thinking. Such individuals choose the profession of accountant, economist, detective, doctor, etc.
Visual-spatial intelligence is characterized by the ability to perceive the world around us, to transform what was seen into images, to reproduce forms from memory. Children who have a predominant visual-spatial intelligence prefer to assemble puzzles, play labyrinths or with plain-looking toys. A developed imagination is realized in drawings and dreams. Physics, chemistry, drawing, geometry - favorite subjects in high school. A person with visual-spatial intelligence most often becomes a sculptor, architect, designer, inventor, engineer, etc.
Body-kinesthetic intelligence
Body-kinesthetic intelligence is expressed through body language. Such a person masterfully owns his body and through it realizes his talents.
Children with this type of intellect are drawn to dance, play sports, craft with their own hands. Physical activity, to which such people gravitate, is compensated by plentiful food. Kinesthetics have a highly developed spirit of competition, so they need praise and support more than others. Such people choose the profession of an artist, surgeon, athlete, dancer, artisan, etc.
Personal intelligence
According to Howard Gardner, the structure of personality intelligences is based on a person’s attitude to himself and to the world. The author has identified two types of intelligence: existential and interpersonal.
Existential intelligence allows you to understand your feelings, see the difference between them, the ability to express them in symbolic form. Such a person is distinguished by awareness and the ability to control his own behavior. Children who are dominated by this type of intelligence can reasonably reason and draw the right conclusions. They tend to think about the meaning of life, to study philosophy and spiritual practices. It’s easy for such people to plan, follow instructions and predict the future. Persons with existential intelligence choose the profession of a psychologist, teacher, priest, politician, etc.
Interpersonal intelligence gives a person the ability to subtly feel the mood of others. He sees the difference between temperaments, motives and intentions. Understanding people makes it easy to build relationships, and on occasion to manipulate. Children with this type of intelligence quickly find contact with strangers. Feeling the mood of others, they instantly rebuild. A sense of humor, charisma, a sharp mind, sociability, which such individuals possess, make them the soul of the company and good negotiators. These people become politicians, educators, directors, etc.
Naturalistic intelligence
The naturalistic type was later incorporated into multiple intelligences. Howard Gardner singled it out, as a large number of people develop relationships not only with people, but also with the surrounding nature. A healthy diet, everything related to nature and animals is a human element with a naturalistic intelligence. They choose the profession of a geologist, veterinarian, farmer, etc.
Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligence does not help to break the child, but to determine his inclinations and direct the efforts of parents to the development of inherent talents.