Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

norms p. 291
294 Chapter 
9 
Intelligence
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“Hey, hey, hey, Fact Track!” The 11-year-old speaker chose one of his favorite programs. . . . 
“What is your name?” appeared on the monitor. 
“Daniel Skandera,” he typed. A menu scrolled up listing the program’s possibilities. 
Daniel chose multiplication facts, Level 1. . . . 
Randomly generated multiplication facts fl ashed on the screen: “4 
3
6,” “2 
3
9,” 
“3 
3
3,” “7 
3
6.” Daniel responded, deftly punching in his answers on the computer’s 
numeric key-pad . . . . 
The computer tallied the results. “You completed 20 problems in 66 seconds. You beat 
your goal. Problems correct 
5
20. Congratulations Daniel!” And with that the 11-year-
old retreated hastily to the TV room. The Lakers and 76ers were about to tip off for an 
NBA championship game. (Heward & Orlansky, 1988, p. 100) 
If you consider people with mental retardation as inept and dull, it is time to revise 
your view. As in the case of Daniel Skandera, individuals with defi cits of intellectual 
abilities can lead full, rounded lives and in some cases perform well in certain kinds 
of academic endeavors. 
More than 7 million people in the United States, including around 11 per 1,000 
children, have been identifi ed as far enough below average in intelligence that they 
can be regarded as having a serious defi cit. Individuals with low IQs (people with 
mental retardation or intellectual disabilities) as well as those with unusually high 
IQs (the intellectually gifted) require special attention if they are to reach their full 
potential.
Mental Retardation 
(Intellectual Disabilities)
Although sometimes thought of as a rare phenomenon, mental retardation (or, as it 
is increasingly being called, intellectual disabilities) occurs in 1%–3% of the popula-
tion. There is wide variation among those labeled mentally retarded, in large part 
because of the inclusiveness of the defi nition developed by the American Association 
on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The association suggests that  mental