Theory of Multiple Intelligence

Howard Gardner, an American Developmental Psychologist, in 1983, proposed the Theory of Multiple Intelligence. The Theory of Multiple Intelligences connotes that people learn in a variety of different ways. Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence, describes the different ways a student learns and acquires information. Thus, these multiple intelligences varies from one’s interest in words, numbers, music and pictures, to the role of social interactions, introspection, physical movement and being in tune with nature.  

Types of Multiple Intelligence

According to Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences, a child's intelligence is discovered, then a teacher can easily accommodate children more successfully according to their orientation to learning. 

Gardner reviewed the literature using 8 Types of Intelligence:

Linguistic intelligence: Type of Intelligence that describes one’s ability to learn and the capacity to use language to accomplish certain goals. People with strong linguistic-verbal intelligence are able to use words well, both when writing and speaking. They are typically very good at writing stories, memorizing information, and reading. As per Howard Gardner, writers, poets, lawyers and speakers fall under the category of linguistic intelligence.

Logical-mathematical intelligence: Type of Intelligence that defines one’s capacity to analyze problems logically, carry out mathematical operations, and investigate issues scientifically. People high on the scale of logical-mathematical intelligence are good at reasoning, recognizing patterns, and logically analyzing problems. Such people tend to think conceptually about numbers, relationships, and patterns

Musical intelligence: Type of Intelligence that discovers one’s skill in the performance, composition, and appreciation of musical patterns. Thinking in patterns, rhythms, and sounds are the most important characteristics of a person who has strong interest in Musical Intelligence.

Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence: Type of Intelligence that defines one’s potential of using body or parts of the body to solve problems. In short, the ability to use mental abilities to coordinate bodily movements.  Bodily-kinesthetic are said to be good at body movement, performing actions, and physical control. They have excellent hand-eye coordination and dexterity.

Spatial intelligence: Type of Intelligence that defines one’s potential to recognize and use the patterns of wide space and more confined areas. People with high visual-spatial intelligence are good at visualizing things. They are often good with directions as well as maps, charts, videos, and pictures.

Interpersonal intelligence: Type of Intelligence concerned with one’s capacity to understand the intentions, motivations and desires of other people. People with strong interpersonal intelligence are good at understanding and interacting with other people. They are skilled at analyzing one’s emotions, motivations, desires, and intentions. Educators, salespeople, religious and political leaders and counsellors falls on the scale of interpersonal intelligence.

Intrapersonal intelligence: Type of Intelligence that describes one’s capacity to discover oneself and to appreciate one’s feelings, fears and motivations.

People with strong intrapersonal intelligence are aware of their own emotional states and feelings. They are more involved in self-reflection such as exploring relationships with others, and assessing their personal strengths.

Naturalist intelligence: Type of Intelligence that enables human beings to recognize, categorize and draw upon certain features of the environment. Naturalist Intelligent people are more in tune with nature and are often interested in nurturing, exploring the environment, and learning about other species.

Why to choose Multiple Intelligence

The Multiple Intelligence theory gives a better understanding of one’s different ways of learning. The Multiple Intelligence test helps the learners identify which type of intelligence suits them, so that they can adapt the content to their learning style to help them grasp the material. For example, students with a high visual-spatial intelligence could create drawings of concepts to help.

Multiple Intelligence test helps the students to overcome learning difficulties with specific subjects where they may consider themselves weak at. Thus, helping the students to get motivated and be enthusiastic about subjects that they previously strugg