Question

Check your understanding of various theories on the nature of intelligence by matching the names of their originators with the brief descriptions of the theories' main themes that appear below. Choose from the following theorists: (a) Alfred Binet, (b) Howard Gardner. (c) Arthur Jensen, (d) Lewis Terman, (e) Robert Sternberg, and (f) David Wechsler. The answers are in Appendix A. ______________ This French psychologist devised the first successful intelligence test, which expressed a child's score in terms of mental age.

Short answer

Answer: Alfred Binet

Step-by-step solution

Identify the French psychologist among the theorists

To solve this exercise, the student needs to identify which theorist is the French psychologist mentioned in the description. The description states that the French psychologist devised the first successful intelligence test, which expressed a child's score in terms of mental age.

Review the theories and originators

To find the correct match, the student should review the theories and their originators. This will give a better understanding of each theorist's contribution to the field of intelligence.

Match the description to the theorist

After reviewing the theories and originators, the description provided matches Alfred Binet, a French psychologist who devised the first successful intelligence test, which expressed a child's score in terms of mental age.

Key concepts

Intelligence Test

Intelligence tests are structured evaluations designed to measure a person's intellectual abilities in a range of areas. These tests aim to provide a quantitative assessment of an individual's overall mental capabilities. The results are often used to determine eligibility for certain educational programs or to identify specific learning needs.

In general, intelligence tests gauge several cognitive abilities:

• Logical reasoning
• Problem-solving skills
• Memory and recall
• Linguistic ability
• Mathematical skills

These test scores are often standardized to better compare individuals across different demographics. A famous example is the IQ test, which stands for Intelligence Quotient. The IQ test origin dates back to early 20th century France where it was used to evaluate students for placement in schools.

Alfred Binet

Alfred Binet was a French psychologist best known for developing the first practical intelligence test. Born in 1857, Binet initially studied law before shifting his focus to psychology.

Binet's major contribution was the Binet-Simon scale, created in collaboration with Théodore Simon. This scale pioneered the concept of measuring a child's intellectual development through age-appropriate tasks, thus introducing the concept of "mental age." Binet's work set the foundation for further research and development in the field of psychological testing.

His approach was pragmatic and aimed at addressing real-world educational needs, particularly in identifying children who required specialized support in school. Binet stressed that intelligence was too complex to be captured in a single number and cautioned against using the scores as definitive labels.

Mental Age

Mental age is a concept introduced by Alfred Binet that refers to the age level at which a person functions mentally, which may be different from their actual chronological age. This was a revolutionary way to understand intelligence in educational and psychological contexts. The idea is that a child whose mental age matches their chronological age is considered of average intelligence.

For example, if a 10-year-old child can solve problems typically expected of their age group, their mental age is 10. However, if they can solve problems typical of a 12-year-old, then their mental age is 12. This concept was crucial for adapting educational approaches to meet individual learning needs and to understand cognitive development stages in children.

Psychologists

Psychologists are professionals trained to study human behavior and mental processes. Their work can span various fields including clinical psychology, counseling, research, and education.

In the context of intelligence theories, psychologists like Alfred Binet play a significant role. They develop models to understand the cognitive processes behind intelligence and devise tests to measure these faculties.

• Alfred Binet was instrumental in the creation of intelligence tests.
• Howard Gardner contributed with his theory of multiple intelligences.
• Robert Sternberg explored the triarchic theory, which includes analytical, creative, and practical intelligences.

Psychologists use these theories to better understand individual differences, and to refine practices that help people reach their full potential.