PSYC 1150 Chapter 9: Chapter 9
Document Summary
According to edwin boring intelligence is whatever intelligence tests measure. Intelligence as sensory capacity: out of sight out of mind. Galton (scientist and inventor-cousin to charles darwin) was interested in the potential adaptive advantages of high intellect or what makes people smart. Proposed a hypothesis: intelligence is the by-product of sensory capacity (most knowledge first comes through the senses, therefore people with superior sensory capacities should acquire more knowledge. Galton: administered a battery of 17 sensory tests to more than 9000 visitors (high low pitch, reaction times, discriminate weights, smells) Later researched showed that different measures of sensory capacities are weakly correlated (heightened hearing doesn"t relate to heightened vision) In western nations intelligence is the capacity to reason well and reason quickly, in non- western it is reflecting people"s wisdom and judgment. Although binet and simon"s items differed in content, people who got 1 item correct were more likely to get another.