{"id":457,"date":"2023-03-02T20:17:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-02T20:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/what-are-intelligence-and-creativity\/"},"modified":"2025-11-14T17:19:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T17:19:09","slug":"what-are-intelligence-and-creativity","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/what-are-intelligence-and-creativity\/","title":{"raw":"Intelligence and Creativity: Learn It 1\u2014What Is Intelligence?","rendered":"Intelligence and Creativity: Learn It 1\u2014What Is Intelligence?"},"content":{"raw":"<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Explain the triarchic theory of intelligence<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Explain the multiple intelligences theory<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Understand IQ testing<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Explain how IQ is measured<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Define creativity, divergent, and convergent thinking<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 36px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: -0.02em; word-spacing: normal;\">Classifying Intelligence<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<h3><strong data-start=\"221\" data-end=\"246\">What is intelligence?<br \/>\r\n<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<p>Psychologists define intelligence as the ability to learn from experience, adapt to new situations, understand complex ideas, and use reasoning and problem-solving to navigate the world. Although these ideas seem straightforward, researchers have debated for decades whether intelligence is one ability, many abilities, or some combination of both.<\/p>\r\n<h3 data-start=\"632\" data-end=\"669\"><strong data-start=\"635\" data-end=\"669\">Early Theories of Intelligence<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<p data-start=\"702\" data-end=\"978\">British psychologist <strong data-start=\"723\" data-end=\"743\">Charles Spearman<\/strong> argued that intelligence is a single, general ability he called <strong data-start=\"808\" data-end=\"813\">g<\/strong> (general intelligence). People who excelled in one intellectual area (like math) tended to excel in others (like language), suggesting a shared underlying capacity.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"980\" data-end=\"1120\">Spearman\u2019s idea mirrors views held by ancient thinkers such as <strong data-start=\"1043\" data-end=\"1056\">Aristotle<\/strong>, who also believed intellectual strengths shared a common core.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"980\" data-end=\"1120\">In the 1940s, psychologist <strong data-start=\"1209\" data-end=\"1228\">Raymond Cattell<\/strong> proposed that \u201cg\u201d actually has two major components:<\/p>\r\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\r\n<h3>crystallized and fluid intelligence<\/h3>\r\n<h4 data-start=\"1283\" data-end=\"1317\"><strong data-start=\"1288\" data-end=\"1317\">Crystallized Intelligence<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<ul data-start=\"1318\" data-end=\"1478\">\r\n\t<li data-start=\"1318\" data-end=\"1364\">\r\n<p data-start=\"1320\" data-end=\"1364\">Knowledge you\u2019ve acquired and can retrieve<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"1365\" data-end=\"1425\">\r\n<p data-start=\"1367\" data-end=\"1425\">Used when recalling facts, vocabulary, or learned skills<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"1426\" data-end=\"1478\">\r\n<p data-start=\"1428\" data-end=\"1478\">Helps you solve familiar, straightforward problems<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4 data-start=\"1480\" data-end=\"1507\"><strong data-start=\"1485\" data-end=\"1507\">Fluid Intelligence<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<ul data-start=\"1508\" data-end=\"1725\">\r\n\t<li data-start=\"1508\" data-end=\"1572\">\r\n<p data-start=\"1510\" data-end=\"1572\">Ability to think flexibly and solve novel, abstract problems<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"1573\" data-end=\"1661\">\r\n<p data-start=\"1575\" data-end=\"1661\">Used when navigating an unfamiliar city or solving a puzzle you\u2019ve never seen before<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li data-start=\"1662\" data-end=\"1725\">\r\n<p data-start=\"1664\" data-end=\"1725\">Peaks in young adulthood and tends to decline slowly with age<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p data-start=\"1727\" data-end=\"1880\">Together, these two forms of intelligence help explain why someone might be very knowledgeable yet struggle with new problem-solving tasks\u2014or vice versa.<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<h3>The Triarchic Theory of Intelligence<\/h3>\r\n<p>Robert Sternberg developed another theory of intelligence, which he titled the <strong>triarchic theory of intelligence<\/strong> because it sees intelligence as comprised of three parts (Sternberg, 1988): practical, creative, and analytical intelligence (Figure 1).<\/p>\r\n<figure>\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"649\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/902\/2015\/02\/23224835\/CNX_Psych_07_04_Triachic.jpg\" alt=\"Three boxes are arranged in a triangle. The top box contains \u201cAnalytical intelligence; academic problem solving and computation.\u201d There is a line with arrows on both ends connecting this box to another box containing \u201cPractical intelligence; street smarts and common sense.\u201d Another line with arrows on both ends connects this box to another box containing \u201cCreative intelligence; imaginative and innovative problem solving.\u201d Another line with arrows on both ends connects this box to the first box described, completing the triangle.\" width=\"649\" height=\"314\" data-media-type=\"image\/jpeg\" \/> <strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. Sternberg\u2019s theory identifies three types of intelligence: practical, creative, and analytical.[\/caption]\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\r\n<h3>practical intelligence<\/h3>\r\n<p><strong>Practical intelligence<\/strong>, as proposed by Sternberg, is sometimes compared to \u201cstreet smarts.\u201d Being practical means you find solutions that work in your everyday life by applying knowledge based on your experiences.<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<p>This type of intelligence appears to be separate from traditional understanding of IQ; individuals who score high in practical intelligence may or may not have comparable scores in creative and analytical intelligence (Sternberg, 1988).<\/p>\r\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\r\n<h3>analytical intelligence<\/h3>\r\n<p><strong>Analytical intelligence<\/strong> is closely aligned with academic problem-solving and computations. Sternberg says that analytical intelligence is demonstrated by an ability to analyze, evaluate, judge, compare, and contrast.<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<p>When reading a classic novel for literature class, for example, it is usually necessary to compare the motives of the main characters of the book or analyze the historical context of the story. In a science course such as anatomy, you must study the processes by which the body uses various minerals in different human systems. In developing an understanding of this topic, you are using analytical intelligence. When solving a challenging math problem, you would apply analytical intelligence to analyze different aspects of the problem and then solve it section by section.<\/p>\r\n<section class=\"textbox watchIt\">Test your analytical intelligence with the prisoner hat riddle:<br \/>\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/N5vJSNXPEwA\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\r\nYou can <a href=\"https:\/\/oerfiles.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/Psychology\/Transcriptions\/CanYouSolveThePrisonerHatRiddleAlexGendler.txt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">view the transcript for \"Can you solve the prisoner hat riddle? - Alex Gendler\" here (opens in new window)<\/a>.<\/section>\r\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\r\n<h3>creative intelligence<\/h3>\r\n<p><strong>Creative intelligence<\/strong> is marked by inventing or imagining a solution to a problem or situation. Creativity in this realm can include finding a novel solution to an unexpected problem or producing a beautiful work of art or a well-developed short story.<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n<p>Imagine for a moment that you are camping in the woods with some friends and realize that you\u2019ve forgotten your camp coffee pot. The person in your group who figures out a way to successfully brew coffee using atypical supplies would be credited as having higher creative intelligence because of their novel problem-solving skills.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<section class=\"textbox tryIt\">[ohm2_question height=\"1300\"]9019[\/ohm2_question]<\/section>","rendered":"<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\">\n<ul>\n<li>Explain the triarchic theory of intelligence<\/li>\n<li>Explain the multiple intelligences theory<\/li>\n<li>Understand IQ testing<\/li>\n<li>Explain how IQ is measured<\/li>\n<li>Define creativity, divergent, and convergent thinking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 36px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: -0.02em; word-spacing: normal;\">Classifying Intelligence<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><strong data-start=\"221\" data-end=\"246\">What is intelligence?<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Psychologists define intelligence as the ability to learn from experience, adapt to new situations, understand complex ideas, and use reasoning and problem-solving to navigate the world. Although these ideas seem straightforward, researchers have debated for decades whether intelligence is one ability, many abilities, or some combination of both.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"632\" data-end=\"669\"><strong data-start=\"635\" data-end=\"669\">Early Theories of Intelligence<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"702\" data-end=\"978\">British psychologist <strong data-start=\"723\" data-end=\"743\">Charles Spearman<\/strong> argued that intelligence is a single, general ability he called <strong data-start=\"808\" data-end=\"813\">g<\/strong> (general intelligence). People who excelled in one intellectual area (like math) tended to excel in others (like language), suggesting a shared underlying capacity.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"980\" data-end=\"1120\">Spearman\u2019s idea mirrors views held by ancient thinkers such as <strong data-start=\"1043\" data-end=\"1056\">Aristotle<\/strong>, who also believed intellectual strengths shared a common core.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"980\" data-end=\"1120\">In the 1940s, psychologist <strong data-start=\"1209\" data-end=\"1228\">Raymond Cattell<\/strong> proposed that \u201cg\u201d actually has two major components:<\/p>\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\n<h3>crystallized and fluid intelligence<\/h3>\n<h4 data-start=\"1283\" data-end=\"1317\"><strong data-start=\"1288\" data-end=\"1317\">Crystallized Intelligence<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul data-start=\"1318\" data-end=\"1478\">\n<li data-start=\"1318\" data-end=\"1364\">\n<p data-start=\"1320\" data-end=\"1364\">Knowledge you\u2019ve acquired and can retrieve<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1365\" data-end=\"1425\">\n<p data-start=\"1367\" data-end=\"1425\">Used when recalling facts, vocabulary, or learned skills<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1426\" data-end=\"1478\">\n<p data-start=\"1428\" data-end=\"1478\">Helps you solve familiar, straightforward problems<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 data-start=\"1480\" data-end=\"1507\"><strong data-start=\"1485\" data-end=\"1507\">Fluid Intelligence<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul data-start=\"1508\" data-end=\"1725\">\n<li data-start=\"1508\" data-end=\"1572\">\n<p data-start=\"1510\" data-end=\"1572\">Ability to think flexibly and solve novel, abstract problems<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1573\" data-end=\"1661\">\n<p data-start=\"1575\" data-end=\"1661\">Used when navigating an unfamiliar city or solving a puzzle you\u2019ve never seen before<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1662\" data-end=\"1725\">\n<p data-start=\"1664\" data-end=\"1725\">Peaks in young adulthood and tends to decline slowly with age<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1727\" data-end=\"1880\">Together, these two forms of intelligence help explain why someone might be very knowledgeable yet struggle with new problem-solving tasks\u2014or vice versa.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<h3>The Triarchic Theory of Intelligence<\/h3>\n<p>Robert Sternberg developed another theory of intelligence, which he titled the <strong>triarchic theory of intelligence<\/strong> because it sees intelligence as comprised of three parts (Sternberg, 1988): practical, creative, and analytical intelligence (Figure 1).<\/p>\n<figure>\n<figure style=\"width: 649px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/902\/2015\/02\/23224835\/CNX_Psych_07_04_Triachic.jpg\" alt=\"Three boxes are arranged in a triangle. The top box contains \u201cAnalytical intelligence; academic problem solving and computation.\u201d There is a line with arrows on both ends connecting this box to another box containing \u201cPractical intelligence; street smarts and common sense.\u201d Another line with arrows on both ends connects this box to another box containing \u201cCreative intelligence; imaginative and innovative problem solving.\u201d Another line with arrows on both ends connects this box to the first box described, completing the triangle.\" width=\"649\" height=\"314\" data-media-type=\"image\/jpeg\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. Sternberg\u2019s theory identifies three types of intelligence: practical, creative, and analytical.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\n<h3>practical intelligence<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Practical intelligence<\/strong>, as proposed by Sternberg, is sometimes compared to \u201cstreet smarts.\u201d Being practical means you find solutions that work in your everyday life by applying knowledge based on your experiences.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>This type of intelligence appears to be separate from traditional understanding of IQ; individuals who score high in practical intelligence may or may not have comparable scores in creative and analytical intelligence (Sternberg, 1988).<\/p>\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\n<h3>analytical intelligence<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Analytical intelligence<\/strong> is closely aligned with academic problem-solving and computations. Sternberg says that analytical intelligence is demonstrated by an ability to analyze, evaluate, judge, compare, and contrast.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>When reading a classic novel for literature class, for example, it is usually necessary to compare the motives of the main characters of the book or analyze the historical context of the story. In a science course such as anatomy, you must study the processes by which the body uses various minerals in different human systems. In developing an understanding of this topic, you are using analytical intelligence. When solving a challenging math problem, you would apply analytical intelligence to analyze different aspects of the problem and then solve it section by section.<\/p>\n<section class=\"textbox watchIt\">Test your analytical intelligence with the prisoner hat riddle:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/N5vJSNXPEwA\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><br \/>\nYou can <a href=\"https:\/\/oerfiles.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/Psychology\/Transcriptions\/CanYouSolveThePrisonerHatRiddleAlexGendler.txt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">view the transcript for &#8220;Can you solve the prisoner hat riddle? &#8211; Alex Gendler&#8221; here (opens in new window)<\/a>.<\/section>\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\n<h3>creative intelligence<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Creative intelligence<\/strong> is marked by inventing or imagining a solution to a problem or situation. Creativity in this realm can include finding a novel solution to an unexpected problem or producing a beautiful work of art or a well-developed short story.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p>Imagine for a moment that you are camping in the woods with some friends and realize that you\u2019ve forgotten your camp coffee pot. The person in your group who figures out a way to successfully brew coffee using atypical supplies would be credited as having higher creative intelligence because of their novel problem-solving skills.\u00a0<\/p>\n<section class=\"textbox tryIt\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"ohm9019\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/ohm.one.lumenlearning.com\/multiembedq.php?id=9019&theme=lumen&iframe_resize_id=ohm9019&source=tnh&show_question_numbers\" width=\"100%\" height=\"1300\"><\/iframe><\/section>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"menu_order":16,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"What Are Intelligence and Creativity?\",\"author\":\"OpenStax College\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/7-4-what-are-intelligence-and-creativity\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"Download for free at https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/1-introduction\"},{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Modification and adaptation\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"copyrighted_video\",\"description\":\"You Think You Are Smart? 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