Memory, thinking, and intelligence: cognitive processes and relationships

Memory, Thinking and Intelligence

The psychological discipline is an extremely complex one, because the nature of the human brain and its function is very intricate. Hence, any theory regarding intelligence will also be complex. For this reason, there are within psychology several disagreements and discrepancies relating to the nature of intelligence. Mainly, there are two major schools of thought regarding intelligence: Spearman's Model of Intelligence, and Gardner's Multiple Intelligences (Paik, 1998).

The major difference between the two is that Spearman's model adheres to the theory that there is only one single general intelligence in the human mind, from which all abilities and cognitive functions are controlled. According to Gardner's model, there are eight different intelligences (Armstrong, 1998-2002): linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist intelligence. Gardner bases these estimates on the biological structure of the brain, whereas Spearman's model is based upon intelligence tests (Paik, 1998).

Spearman's tests are based upon data observed, rather than an investigation into the physical properties of the brain itself. He argues that, because there is a high correlation between the different tests given to measure the IQ, all the functions tested are located within one general location that governs intelligence. Further tests to measure functions such as reaction time, which is associated with physical rather than cognitive ability, also proved to Spearman that his theory of one intelligence holds true. This assumption is also based upon the fact that all the forms of intelligence that Spearman tested required the proper functioning of the brain and nervous system. Hence, a single system controls the various functions (Paik, 1998).

Gardner, on the other hand, believes that Spearman's tests, and also the IQ test, are too narrow in their scope of the human intelligence considered. According to the former, Spearman does not consider areas of intelligence relating to the biological, creative and social roles for which intelligence is also required (Paik, 1998). Rather than conducting behavioral tests, Gardner then formed premises that are based upon the physical mapping of the brain. He hypothesized that certain parts within the brain could map with certain areas of cognitive functioning, such as social, cognitive, or creative functions. To prove this, Gardner cites cases of brain damage that leads to the loss of some, but not all, cognitive functions. On this basis, one could also say that Spearman's test findings, while all located in the brain, relate to different parts of the brain and nervous system rather than a single location, as originally assumed.

Comparisons between the two models include the fact that both theorists believe that intelligence relates to more than one human function. Spearman for example used a variety of different tasks to test intelligence, as does the IQ test he uses to base his assumptions on. Gardner agrees with Spearman on the fact that intelligence does indeed relate to different tasks, but simply adds more to the already existing ones in order to make the premise more complete, according to him.