Multiple Intelligences
Howard Gardner’s
Theory of Multiple Intelligences
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People have a unique blend of intelligences.
The biggest challenge is how to use the blend
of intelligences.
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Eight Multiple Intelligences
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Verbal linguistic
Logical-mathematical
Spatial
Musical rhythmic
Bodily-kinesthetic
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
Naturalist
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Linguistic intelligence
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Sensitivity to spoken and written language
The ability to learn languages
The capacity to use language to accomplish certain goals
Ability to use language as a means to remember
information
Writers, poets, lawyers and speakers are among those that
Howard Gardner sees as having high linguistic intelligence.
Famous People: Charles Dickens, Abe Lincoln, Winston
Churchill
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Logical-mathematical intelligence
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The capacity to analyze problems logically
Carry out mathematical operations
Investigate issues scientifically
Ability to detect patterns
Ability to reason deductively and think logically
This intelligence is most often associated with
scientific and mathematical thinking
Famous People: Albert Einstein & Stephan
Hawking
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Spatial intelligence
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Involves the driving force to recognize and
use the patterns or shapes in open space and
also in confined areas
Famous People: L. da Vinci, Picasso, Frank
Lloyd Wright
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Musical intelligence
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Skill in the performance, composition, and
appreciation of musical patterns
The capacity to recognize and compose musical
pitches, tones, and rhythms
According to Howard Gardner musical intelligence
runs in an almost structural parallel to linguistic
intelligence.
Famous People: Paul McCartney, Mozart, Ray
Charles
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Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence
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The potential of using one's whole body or parts of
the body to solve problems
Ability to use mental abilities to coordinate bodily
movements
Howard Gardner sees mental and physical activity
as related.
Famous People: Michael Jordan & Babe Ruth
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Interpersonal intelligence
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Capacity to understand the intentions, motivations
and desires of other people
To work effectively with others
Educators, salespeople, religious and political
leaders, and counselors all need a well-developed
interpersonal intelligence.
Famous People: Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Oprah
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Intrapersonal intelligence
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Entails the capacity to understand oneself, to
appreciate one's feelings, fears and motivations
In Howard Gardner's view, it involves having an
effective working model of ourselves, and to be
able to use such information to regulate our lives.
Famous People: Sigmund Freud, Eleanor
Roosevelt, Emily Dickinson
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Naturalist intelligence
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The capacity to make consequential distinctions in
nature—between one plant and another, among
animals, clouds, mountains, and the like.
Scientist Charles Darwin had naturalist intelligence
in abundance.
Most of us no longer use our naturalist intelligence
to survive in the jungle or the forest.
It is likely that our entire consumer culture is based
on our naturalist capacity to differentiate one car
make from another, one sneaker from another, and
the like.
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Gardner claimed that the eight intelligences
rarely operate independently.
They are used at the same time and tend to
complement each other as people develop
skills or solve problems.
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These intelligences, according to Howard
Gardner, are amoral (not doing the right
thing)
They can be put to constructive or destructive
use.
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Eight kinds of intelligence would allow eight
ways to teach, rather than one.
This would allow children more ways to learn
and express themselves.
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Review
List the eight intelligences and give an example
of each.
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