Intelligence: theories and issues

Abstract

[Abstract]: Of all the areas of Psychology, intelligence is probably the most controversial. At the same time, it is also one of the oldest areas of the discipline, dating back to the 1880's with the work of Francis Galton on individual differences in sensory functioning. It is impossible to capture in a single chapter the immense body of theorising and research that has been devoted to the topic of intelligence. The aims of this chapter are considerably more modest: a) to give a brief historical overview of the area; b) to show how developments in the field are tied to the methodologies used to study intelligence; c) to describe current approaches to intelligence; and d) to introduce the reader to some of the main controversies in the area. This chapter will trace the developments of the construct, from Spearman's (1904) early conceptions of intelligence as mental energy to the much broader conceptions of modern day theorists. The chapter will also deal with the wider social context and the implications of our understanding of intelligence for society in general. As will be seen, it is not an easy construct to understand but it cannot be ignored because, along with personality, it is one of the most fundamental aspects of the human psyche.