Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory
Historically, IQ scores were obtained by dividing a person’s mental age (determined by an intelligence test) by their
chronological age and multiplying the result by 100. The most well-known and popular standardized IQ test is the
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, originally published in 1916. While the Stanford-Binet is still used today, the most
commonly used test is the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.
The standard view of intelligence (as measured by standardized IQ tests) assumes that intelligence is a fixed trait – in
other words, something people are born with and cannot change. This view is controversial, and some people, like
developmental psychologist Howard Gardner, feel it is a very poor measure of a person’s total intelligence. Gardner
favors the idea of multiple intelligences, which allows for several different areas of intelligence common to all human
beings. His theory assumes that people have varying levels of intelligence in each area. In other words, we all have our
own strengths and weaknesses. Gardner also believes that intelligence is fluid, meaning it can change over the course of
our lifetime, and that our actions and efforts can impact that change both positively and negatively.