Advice

Multiple Intelligence

At Recruit-Drive we are always trying to improve our users knowledge whilst encouraging self development.This post will compliment our IQ and psychometric tests by briefly touching upon Gardner's multiple intelligence theories and give you an overview your own preferences.



In 1983, Gardner published the book titled  "Frames of Mind," which outlined seven different types of intelligence. Since publishing his original list of seven intelligences, Gardner has added Naturalist and Existential to bring the total number to nine Intelligences.This multiple intelligences known as  Gardner's MI theories is a popular model for understanding intelligence. We will be focusing on eight of the multiple intelligences; the Existential Intelligence (individual's ability to use collective values and intuition to understand others and the world around them) will be out of scope.



The Multiple Intelligences



The MI theory claims that all humans have intelligences and that we each have a different intelligence profile. This profile is based on our genetics and our experiences, and it makes us unique from each other. MI Theory is used by individuals, parents, educators and organisations occasionally to look for signs of innate abilities and then to help develop them further.



Inspiration from Gardener leads us here at Recruit-Drive to believe our job is to help people become who they are supposed to be, not necessarily what we think they should be. This will result in happier and high performing individuals who will be acting in a more natural manner. 





The intelligences are as follows:




  1. Linguistic intelligence – This is the ability to use spoken and written language effectively to express yourself. Lawyers, writers, and speakers tend to have high linguistic intelligence. Famous person who has high Linguistic Intelligence:Barack Obama is a great public speaker, he is likely to go down in history as one of the best, he once said 'Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change we seek'.

  2. Logical-mathematical intelligence – This is the ability to analyze problems logically, work effectively with mathematical operations, and investigate issues using the scientific method. Finding patterns and deductive reasoning are other capabilities associated with this intelligence. Famous person who has high Logical-Mathematical Intelligence:Warren Buffet, one of the richest men in the world who said 'Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing'

  3. Musical intelligence – This is the ability to perform, compose, and appreciate musical patterns, including changes in pitch, tone, and rhythm. Successful musicians, composers, and people involved in music production have high levels of musical intelligence. Famous person who has high Musical Intelligence: Michael Jackson, who said 'In many ways an artist is his work. It's difficult to separate the two. I think I can be brutally objective about my work as I create it, and if something doesn't work, I can feel it, but when I turn in a finished album — or song — you can be sure that I've given it every ounce of energy and God-given talent that I have' 

  4. Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence – This is the ability to use the body for expression. People high in this intelligence use their physical coordination to master problems. Professional dancers and athletes are good examples of this. Michael Jackson is a famous who also has high kinesthetic intelligence. However we have selected Micahel Jordan who famously said 'I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed'

  5. Spatial intelligence – This is the ability to recognize, use, and interpret images and patterns and to reproduce objects in three dimensions. Successful architects, sculptors and designers are likely to have high spatial intelligence. Famous person who has high Spatial intelligence: Coco Chanel who said 'Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening'

  6. Interpersonal intelligence – This is the ability to understand people's intentions, motivations, and desires. This intelligence allows individuals to work well with others. Professions like therapy, teaching, and sales attract individuals with high interpersonal intelligence. Famous person who has high Interpersonal Intelligence: Oprah Winfrey, one of the most famous women in the world who once said 'Your true passion should feel like breathing; it’s that natural'

  7. Intrapersonal intelligence – This is the ability to understand yourself, and to interpret and appreciate your own feelings and motivations. Therapists, actors, caregivers, and writers are all people who can bring high levels of personal awareness to their work. Famous person who has high Intrapersonal Intelligence: Walt Disney who said 'The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique'.

  8. Naturalist intelligence – This is the ability to recognize and appreciate our relationship with the natural world. Astronomers, biologists, and zoologists are examples of professions with a high level of naturalist intelligence. Famous person who has high Naturalist Intelligence: Steve Irwin who died in a freak accident doing what he loved said 'My job, my mission, the reason I’ve been put onto this planet, is to save wildlife'.



There is a great quote from Ray Charles that says 'I was born with music inside me...Like my blood. It was a force already within me when I arrived on the scene. It was a necessity for me - like food or water'. This is a person with Musical Intelligence and obviously filled great passion. Can you imagine if Ray Charles had not followed his passion and had not overcome the many obstacles he faced as a blind person? We encourage everyone to find their natural intelligence and build upon it to develop a strong passion for their work.



____________________________________________________________________________________________________



Try our adaptation of Gardner's MI test and let us know if you agree with the results.



Please note that these tests don't measure performance. The questions are designed to find out a person's preferences, skills, interests, and abilities.The self-reporting nature of these tests relies on having high self-awareness. And Gardner's model says that not everyone has the necessary level of intrapersonal intelligence to answer test questions accurately.