Intelligence: what is it?

According to the American Psychological Association (“ Intelligence,” n.

d.), intelligence is defined as intellectual function but this definition can be expanded a lot further. My definition of intelligence is that it is a combination brain fluidity (fluid intelligence) and knowledge gained from surroundings (crystallized intelligence.) Fluid intelligence refers to the ability of being capable of solving problems, using logic, and identifying patterns; for example, going on the subway for the first time and figuring out the routes, stops, and trains you need to take to get to your destination. Crystallized intelligence, on the other hand, relates to using learned knowledge and experience like learning a new language (“ Two Types of Intelligence: Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence,” n. d.

) This combination of using your “ street smarts” and “ book smarts” allows, in my eyes, to identify how intelligent someone is. It is possible to measure a child’s intelligence through the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. This test measure a child’s IQ (intelligence quotient) that include general intelligence and two cognitive factors that affect intelligence. The two cognitive factors that affect intelligence is language and problem solving. The language component of the factors is tested by listening, answering questions, comprehension, vocabulary, and general information regarding language.

On the other hand, the problem-solving portion of the exam is timed that require the subject to manipulate puzzles, pictures, blocks, etc. (Oswalt, 2010.) Personally, my problem with testing children for intelligence at such a young age is the fact that they have not acquired much knowledge yet which relates to the general knowledge portion of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale. How can you ask children what they know when they have barely learned anything? From the child’s birth until the age of ten, a child is developing and learning the world around them. If a child does not understand their surroundings, how can they gain knowledge from it? Both the Stanford-Binet test and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children test both examine children on brain fluidity.

The good thing about testing on brain fluidity is that it is fluid intelligence instead of crystallized intelligence. The problem with crystallized intelligence is that it is affected by environmental factors such as socioeconomic status. Another pro about these tests is that they are easy to understand, the language and the way that the questions are worded allow for children to comprehend what the question is asking. A con about these tests is that some of the concepts that are tested are so abstract that it may not really measure intelligence. Do recognizing patterns really show how intelligent you are? The intelligence that I am ranked highest in is self-intelligence. I am honestly not surprised with this outcome because I am very self-conscious about who I am and the world around me.

When I had read the hobbies associated with the intelligence, they are totally things I see myself doing and include things I do daily. This test is very easy to understand and it allows for you access yourself but I do not think it is not correct always. Sometimes, people lie on these tests which I think is a major issue.