The Seven Kinds of Multiple Intelligence
Did you know that there are exactly 7 kinds of intelligence? According to Howard Gardner the Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, there are exactly 7 kinds. Interestingly, you have “natural” intelligences and the others can be learned.
1. Linguistic intelligence involves sensitivity to spoken and written language, the ability to learn languages, and the capacity to use language to accomplish certain goals.
2. Logical-Mathematical intelligence involves the capacity to analyze problems logically, carry out mathematical operations, and investigate issues scientifically.
3. Musical intelligence involves skill in the performance, composition, and appreciation of musical patterns.
4. Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence involves the use of one’s whole body or parts of the body to solve problems. It is the ability to use mental abilities to coordinate bodily movements.
5. Spatial intelligence involves the potential to recognize and use the patterns of wide space and more confined areas.
6. Interpersonal intelligence involves the ability to understand intentions, motivations, and desires of other people.
7. Intrapersonal intelligence involves the ability to understand ourselves, appreciate our own feelings, fears, and motivations.
You can have more than one “multiple intelligence.” Each of the intelligences are useful in communication. You can also cultivate other kinds of intelligences that can make you more well-rounded.
Dr. Martin Luther King jr. is an example of a person with incredible “linguistic” intelligence. There is a wonderful picture book which illustrates his ability. The book is called, “Martin’s Big Words.” This book is a Caldecott Honor Winner, Coretta Scott King Honor Award winner and a winner of The New York Times Book Review, “Best Illustrated Children’s Book” award. It is a wonderful book that shows the power of words and Dr. King’s linguistic intelligence which made such a positive change in the world. As a child he said about his father’s sermon, “When I grow up, I’m going to get big words, too.” He certainly did!
I LOVE this. It goes to show that not every one is the same and being “smart” not a cookie cutter mold. I always struggled with the math intelligence and still do to this day. I felt like i didn’t fit in the “smart” group because i could not wrap my head around math. Unfortunate that it took a few years to realize you do not have to have every intelligence available. It is ok to own just one of them, in fact it is normal.
Just as Kassidy wrote above, I have always struggled with math, and I spent the last 12 years banging my head into one mental brick wall after another, because there wasn’t anyway I could classify myself as being intelligent, smart or capable until I became proficient and comfortable around mathematics. Only within the last couple years have I become aware that there’s more to smarts than just being numerically cognizant. I’m glad this article profiles those intelligences that we all have and can use as we see fit and that there is more to being smart than just being able to manipulate numbers.