Howard Gardner's Theory Of Multiple Intelligences

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Some will argue that human intelligence takes the form of multiple different mental abilities, rather than just one general type of mental ability. Howard Gardener of Harvard University pioneered this way of viewing intelligence as multiple entities as opposed to just one single overall IQ score. He called his theory multiple intelligences and set out to find evidence that humans do indeed possess a wide variety of intelligences and not just one single type. Description of Design and Setup of the Study After spending years studying and researching various human brain structures, Gardner took note that different parts of the brain account for different tasks related to knowledge, thinking, and doing. This concept of brain specialization eventually…show more content…
Other researchers that have delve into Gardner’s work have also found support for his concepts while performing their own experimental research. What the results suggest is that it is plausible to have this view of multiple intelligences and to find ways to support the notions. This is in stark contrast to the way intelligence used to be viewed for many years. Instead of viewing intelligence as a single score on a standardized test, Gardner demonstrated that intelligence can manifest itself in multiple ways unique to each…show more content…
Multiple intelligence theory provides evidence that not everyone is smart in the same way. Just because an athlete does not strive in an academic setting does not mean that that athlete is dumber than rocks. That athlete would actually be better equipped or smarter in a situation that would require fast movements and skilled physical abilities. Just as well, one cannot expect an individual with linguistic intelligence to excel at math. It is possible that they could, but if they cannot, one must not label them as stupid. Gardner’s theory proclaims that one should not disregard a single kind of intelligence at the expense of another type because there is no ideal way to be smart. Therefore, many critics assert that multiple intelligence theory is revolutionary and extremely beneficial to students and teachers who apply the theory, especially in educational settings. These critics contend that students, young and old, learn better when the classroom material reflects each individual’s type of intelligence. On the other hand, some critics argue that the idea of multiple intelligence theory merely reflects variation in thinking styles and does not truly represent separate intelligences. Still others believe that multiple intelligence theory is too contradictory and ambiguous in its requirements of what is considered an intelligence.
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