Intellectual ability is a very broad term for how the mind operates. In this lesson we'll define intellectual ability, understand the p...
Intellectual ability is a very broad term for how the mind
operates. In this lesson we'll define intellectual ability, understand the
process behind it, learn from an example, and see in what way chimpanzees have
us beat.
Intellectual Ability Defined
Any talk of intellectual ability must start with a
definition, but intellectual ability is a rather broad term, is it not? How
about we start with a very broad definition and narrow it down as we work,
focusing on the different aspects comprising intelligence.
First, we can broadly define intellectual ability as the
capacity to take in, compare, and recall data. We are all constantly engaging
in these three tasks. As you read these words, you are taking in the data,
comparing it to previous things you've learned (the alphabet and how to read,
for one) and then either recalling that data to make the words and concepts
make sense or recognizing new information.
As you can see, any discussion of intellectual ability
relies on a few different concepts. The first of these is perception, or the
ability to take input from our senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste).
Assuming you aren't impaired in one of these senses, you are constantly taking
in data from all five of these senses, comparing it to previous experiences,
and then either storing or forgetting what you have perceived. Thankfully, much
of this task is handled without our conscious thought or else we might go mad.
Can you imagine having to systematically sort through every sound you ever
heard? We'd never get anything done!
Once you have perceived this data, you can compare it to
previously-stored information known as memory. There are a few types of memory:
short-term memory stores what you have immediately taken in and can last for up
to a few minutes and long-term memory is where you store information to be
recalled much later. Short-term memory is quite limited in humans, with the
average person being able to hold roughly 7 pieces of information at a given
time. A chimpanzee, however, has been studied retaining 19 pieces of
information! Long-term memory is where we really shine, having essentially, an
unlimited capacity for storing data for as long as we remain lucid.
The final step is to take the data and either realize it as
new data or find a match in your memory and develop a comparison. Psychologists
use the terms 'fluid' and 'crystallized' intelligence to compare these two
processes. Fluid intelligence is the ability to look at new concepts and,
without accessing memory, understand them. This is the type of intelligence
used to understand puzzles and patterns. Crystallized intelligence is the more
classical form of recalling stored long-term memories and being able to compare
the new data to this memory; remembering the capital of Ethiopia or who's on
the $500 dollar bill, for instance (Addis Ababa and William McKinley, if you
were wondering).
Measuring Ability
Since the late 19th century, scientists have been working
their hardest to find a way to understand intellectual ability and put a number
on it. There are many tests we use currently to rate intellectual ability, some
of which you may have even taken. One of the best known, the IQ test, measures
mathematical and linguistic abilities and then compares performance (called
mental age) to your age (chronological age) and yields a number, with the
average being declared to be 100.
This isn't the only test, however; the SAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT,
and MCAT are all different standardized tests that put a rating on intellectual
ability. These tests are specifically used so admissions officers at colleges
and universities can compare applicants and choose who to admit and who to
reject.
Putting It All Together
Let's use an example from the world of education to help
understand the processes found in determining intellectual ability.
A student - we'll call him Timmy - is learning about
biology. Today's lesson is focused on leaves. Timmy has seen plenty of leaves
before, but doesn't know what to call them other than 'leaves.' His teacher
shows him a maple leaf and Timmy looks at it. Timmy has seen one of these
outside on the playground! He recognizes its distinct five-pointed shape and
reddish-brown color. Timmy has taken in data on how the leaf looks, compared it
to his previous knowledge, recalled that he has seen one before, and now
assigned a name to the memory: maple leaf. Now, when Timmy learns about Canada,
he'll recognize their flag and know that it is a maple leaf. He has utilized
his intellectual ability to perceive the object, compare it to previous
knowledge, and create a new type of memory.
Summary
Let's review.
Intellectual ability is the capacity to take in, compare,
and recall data. This process starts with perception and leads to the data
being put into short-term and then, hopefully, long-term memory. Short-term
memory takes data from your senses and stores it for about a minute, whereas
long-term memory can theoretically hold an infinite amount of information for
as long as you keep your wits about you.
Fluid intelligence is the ability to understand new concepts
that don't align with long-term memory, such as patterns and puzzles.
Crystallized intelligence is accessing long-term memory to remember numbers,
words, facts, and figures. There are a number of ways to measure your intellectual
ability, from an IQ test to the SATs. Don't get too cocky if you score well,
however, because a chimp can always remember numbers and patterns better than
you!
