The Different Types of Intelligence: What Kind of Smarts are You? (2024)

The different types of intelligence

While sometypes of intelligences are generally more recognised, and sometimes even more valued,the reality isno one type of intelligence is better than another. Instead it is moreimportant to know what type of intelligenceyouhave. This can helpyouto maximise your inherent advantagesand highlight an area where you may need to exercise some extragritto succeed. What kind of intelligence or smarts areyou?

What types of intelligence do I have?

The word intelligence oftenconjures up images of maths and science or IQ tests and complicated algorithms.People who are thought to have high intelligence are valued and oftenconsidered a cut above the rest. What is intelligence? And, is there only one kindof smarts? What if you are useless at maths, but brilliant at languages…doesthat make you unintelligent? Or do you just need a different way of framingthings when you studying?

9 Types of intelligence in Psychology

These are the very questions that Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner addressed in his 1983 book, “Frames of the Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences.” Here, Gardener explains that people do not have a set intellectual capacity, but rather many kinds of intelligences, for example a person can be musically intelligent, but terrible with numbers.

In his book, Gardenerargues that traditional psychometric views of measuring intelligence are toonarrow and that they can’t possibly capture all the abilities and talentspeople possess. He states that it would be incomplete to judge someone’sintelligence by one or two factors alone. Instead to help us understandourselves better, Gardener explains the nine types of intelligence withexamples.

Gardeners nine types of intelligence

1. Naturalistic intelligence

Have you noticed how somepeople can make anything grow? It’s as if they have a ‘green thumb’. Othersconnect with animals easily and some are completely at home in nature.Naturalistic intelligence describes people who are sensitive to the naturalworld. They enjoy being outside, nurturing and exploring the environment.People with high naturalistic intelligence are sensitive to subtle changes innature and the environment around them.

2. Musical intelligence

Not everyone has greenthumbs and a love for the great outdoors. Instead, some people are naturallydrawn towards music. People with musical intelligence are generally moresensitive to sound and often pick up on noises that others would not normallybe aware of. They have an excellent sense of rhythm and the ability torecognise tone and pitch. More often than not they play an instrument or areinvolved in music as a profession.

3. Logical–mathematical intelligence

Of all the types ofintelligence, logical-mathematical intelligence is the most similar to what wetypically associate with general intelligence. People with this type ofintelligence are excellent at maths and working with numbers. They canrecognise patterns easily and work out processes in a logical manner. They haveexcellent reasoning skills and can often talk themselves out of trouble. Peoplewith high logical–mathematical intelligence are often drawn to games involvingstrategy and the solving of puzzles.

4. Existential intelligence

While many of us are happywith going about our lives day by day, people with high levels of existentialintelligence often think moredeeply about daily occurrences. They ask questionssimilar to why are we here? And, what is the point of all this? They are oftendeeply philosophical thinkers and they have the capacity to look for answers toquestions bigger than themselves. Existential intelligence is often calledspiritual or moral intelligence.

5. Interpersonal intelligence

Do you have a natural ability to get on well with others? Are you good at reading people and social situations? If this is the case, chances are that you have a high level of interpersonal intelligence. People with this type of intelligence are often good at reading verbal and non-verbal cues as well as determining temperament and mood. They feel empathy easily. Often this type of intelligence can be found in leaders, politicians, social workers, life coaches and psychologists.

6. Linguistic intelligence

Linguistic intelligence is the type of intelligence that is most commonly shared by humans. It involves our ability to think in words and use these words to make oneself understood. People with high linguistic intelligence are very good at putting their feelings and thoughts into words in order to make others understand them. They are drawn to activities such as reading, writing and public speaking.

7. Bodily–kinaesthetic intelligence

People high in bodily–kinaestheticintelligence have an excellent sense of timing and a great mind-bodycoordination as well as fine and gross motor skills. They are able to use theirbodies to convey feelings and ideas and, as a result, they often take up rolesin dance, sports or medicine. They use their bodies to solve problems andcreate something meaningful.

8. Intra–personal intelligence

Do you understand yourthoughts, feelings and emotions and are you able to use this understanding inyour everyday life? If this is the case, you probably have high intra-personalintelligence. Intra-personal intelligence refers to an understanding of oneselfand the human condition as a whole. They are known as ‘self-smart’ people and,despite having a deeper understanding of their own emotions, they are oftenquite shy. Philosophers, spiritual leaders, psychologist and writersusually have high intra-personal intelligence.

9. Spatial intelligence

Spatial intelligence isdefined as the ability to consider things in three dimensions. People with highspatial intelligence are generally very creative and usually have a vividimagination, high artistic ability and excellent spatial reasoning. These peopleare often referred to as ‘picture smart’ and can be found in professions suchas architecture, design and map reading.

The value of knowing what kind of smarts you have

It must be noted thatGardner’s theory has been the topic of much discussion and criticism frompsychologists. Many felt that his definition of intelligence is too broad,merely representing skills and talents and not intelligence per se. His lack ofempirical research has also been questioned. Despite this however his theory ofmultiple intelligence is still useful to teachers and caretakers who value amore holistic view of child development.

A good understanding of thedifferent types of intelligence provides a broader understanding ofintelligence, suggesting that there is an array of potential and capacity forgrowth that we as a society have not fully explored. Besides, isn’t it nice toknow that even if you are completely useless at maths it doesn’t necessarilymean that you aren’t smart!

You can gain more insight into the many facets of the human experience by studying psychology. SACAP offers a range of courses that can pave the way for a career in psychology, while developing skills that will prove valuable in a variety of other career paths. For more information, enquire now.