Chapter 7 Flashcards
(38 cards)
Defining Intelligence (Wechsler, 1939)
Intelligence is a person’s global capacity to act purposely, to think in a rational manner and to deal effectively with his or her environment
Examples of Intelligent Behaviour
- Emotional awareness
- High score on a test
- Cognitive (problem solving)
- Social (navigating conversations)
- Practical (adapting, working under pressure)
How can you tell if someone is intelligent
- Adapt to their surroundings and understand context
- Verbal + logical skills; articulate thoughts quickly
- Creativity + problem solving
- Emotional intelligence
Correlates of intelligence (Nisbett et al. 2012)
- 40-80% of variability in intelligence scores is due to genetic factors (individuals shape their environment)
- Environment affects the extent to which individuals achieve their full genetic potential (focused on survival intelligence: education, stimulation, nutrition)
- 280 genes associated with intellectual disability identified; no single gene associated with normal variation (interact with each other)
- Breast-feeding seems to be associated with higher IQ among babies born prematurely (improved nutrition & bonding now)
Nisbett et al. variables that are protective
- Breast-feeding seems to be associated with higher IQ among babies born prematurely (higher nutrition and brain development)
- Higher SES in children adopted from low SES homes (from low SES to high SES homes see an increase in IQ -> more resources, support, etc. (enriched environment and resources))
- Aerobic exercises in OA (improves blood flow, neurogenesis, cognitive function and brain plasticity)
Theories of intelligence
- Disconnect between psychological science and cognitive abilities and the ways we assess clinically
- Factor models
- Hierarchical models
- Information processing models
Factor Models
- Beyond school (spatial, linguistics)
- Spearman ‘g’ (general intelligence) and ‘s’ (specific ability)
- Thurstone
- Guilford (multidimensional structure with multiple diversities)
Hierarchical models
- Cattell’s fluid versus crystallized intelligence
- Fluid intelligence is problem-solving and adaptability; declines w age
- Crystallized intelligence is knowledge and skills accumulated over time; remains stable or even improves over time
Information processing models
- Sternberg’s triarchic theory (rejecting the s factor for multiple abilities instead: analytic, practical, creative intelligence)
- Gardner’s multiple intelligences (IQ extends beyond academics)
Why asses intelligence
- To identify possible impairments/weaknesses/strengths to know where you thrive, what you need for support, etc.
- To identify appropriate learning environments that promote success (best fit)
- To make recommendations for modifying work/home environments to promote function in either environments and provides supports to succeed
- Great for neurodevelopmental conditions and cognitive abilities, best fit to guide intervention strategies realistically and identify where extra support is needed
Wechsler Scales - WPPSI-IV
Designed for children 2.5-7 years old
Wechsler Scales - WISC-V
- Ages 6-16
- Has space for flexibility (can start at different points depending on age)
- Visual ability
- Fluid reasoning
- Working memory
- Processing speed
Wechsler Scales - WAIS-IV
- Ages 16 to 90
- Standard test for adults
- Block designs
Wechsler Scales - WASI
- Wechsler Abbreviated Scale for intelligence
- Subtests for WAIS-IV
Standard Scores for Wechsler Scales
- Mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15
- Scores help identify cogn. strengths and weaknesses for diagnostic and intervention purposes
Wechsler Scale Indexes
- Verbal Comprehension (measures verbal knowledge, reasoning and expression)
- Perceptual Reasoning (Assesses nonverbal reasoning, problem-solving, and visual spatial skills)
- Working Memory (Evaluate attention, concentration and mental manipulation of information)
- Processing speed (measures ability to quickly and accurately process simple visual info)
Full Scale IQ
Tries to eliminate bias (although cannot achieve 100% elimination) assesses mental acuity, speed of processing and abilities, verbal abilities and comprehension, etc.
Verbal IQ
- Verbal Comp Index: Vocabulary, Similarities, information, comprehension (What can you understand from language pov)
- Working Memory Index: Arithmetic, Digital Span, Letter-number Sequencing (what you hold in memory)
- Can be impacted by culture
Performance IQ
- Perceptual Organization Index: Picture completion, block design, matrix reasoning (how do we see things and process them in our mind)
- Processing Speed Index: Coding, symbol search, cancellation (how fast we process)
- Can be impacted by poor fine motor skills
Wechsler Test Index Scores
- Verbal Comprehension (reasoning, expression, knowledge)
- Visual Spatial (Nonverbal reasoning, problem solving, visuospatial skills)
- Fluid Reasoning
- Working Memory (attention, concentration, mental manipulation of digits)
- Processing Speed (quickly and accurately process simple info)
Verbal Comprehension
- Similarities
- Vocabulary
- Information
- Comprehension
Visual Spatial
- Block Design
- Visual Puzzles (looking at shapes and putting them together)
Fluid Reasoning
- Matrix reasoning
- Figure weights
- Picture concepts
- Arithmetic
Working Memory
- Digit Span
- Picture Span
- Letter-Number Sequencing