Theories of Intelligence

Abstract

An extensive literature has developed over the nature of human intellectual functioning, with more than a century of research to date. This chapter surveys this field, starting with its historical roots and following the trajectory of these ideas to contemporary views on the nature and structure of intelligence. Dating back to Spearman’s and Thurstone’s original factor-analytic studies, there has been an ongoing debate as to whether intelligence is best captured by one unitary factor (psychometric g), a group of independent broad abilities, or another alternative. Whereas structural models emphasize the interrelationships among different abilities (e.g., verbal and visuospatial skills, speed of processing, etc.), conceptual theories have been more concerned with the fundamental nature of intelligence. Current issues in the field concern the origins and significance of g, the centrality of particular cognitive processes to overall intelligence, and the debate between reductive and more holistic views. The chapter concludes with an overview of the best-supported principles regarding theories of intelligence, along with their implications for intellectual disabilities.