Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

IS INFORMATION PROCESSING INTELLIGENCE? 
One of the newer contributions to understanding intelligence comes from the work 
of cognitive psychologists who take an information-processing approach. They assert 
that the way people store information in memory and use that information to solve 
crystallized intelligence
The 
accumulation of information, skills, 
and strategies that are learned through 
experience and can be applied in 
problem-solving situations.
theory of multiple intelligences
Gardner’s intelligence theory that 
proposes that there are eight distinct 
spheres of intelligence.
Study Alert
Remember, Gardner’s 
theory suggests that each 
individual has every kind 
of intelligence but in 
diff erent degrees.
“To be perfectly frank, I’m not nearly as smart
as you seem to think I am.”
© 
W
.B
. P
ark/T
he New 
Y
orker C
ollec
tion/w
w
w
.car
toonbank
.c
om.
feL82795_ch09_276-305.indd Page 281 8/17/10 9:30 PM user-f464
feL82795_ch09_276-305.indd Page 281 8/17/10 9:30 PM user-f464

---

282 Chapter 
9 
Intelligence
FIGURE 1
Howard Gardner believes that there are eight major kinds of intelligences, 
correspond ing to abilities in diff erent domains. In what area does your greatest intelligence 
reside, and why do you think you have particular strengths in that area? 
(Source: Adapted from 
Gardner, 2000.)
1
.
Musical intelligence (skills in tasks involving music).
Case example:
When he was 3, Yehudi Menuhin was smuggled 
into San Francisco Orchestra concerts by his 
parents. By the time he was 10 years old, 
Menuhin was an international 
performer.
2.
Bodily kinesthetic intelligence (skills in using the whole body or 
various portions of it in the solution of problems or in the 
construction of products or displays, exemplified by dancers, athletes, 
actors, and surgeons). Case example:
Fifteen-year-old Babe Ruth played third 
base. During one game, his team’s 
pitcher was doing very poorly and Babe 
loudly criticized him from third base. 
Brother Matthias, the coach, called out, 
”Ruth, if you know so much about it, 
you
pitch!” Ruth said later that at the very 
moment he took the pitcher’s mound, 
he 
knew
he was supposed to be a 
pitcher.