How do psychologists define intelligence?
This is actually such a good question that psychologists haven’t figured it out themselves yet. =) Some psychologists sarcastically define intelligence as, “whatever it is that intelligence tests measure.” They’re saying that whatever it is, we have no way of actually getting at it, and intelligence tests are bogus. But they’re the best we’ve got. As it happens, in 1921, the editors of the Journal of Educational Psychology asked 14 famous psychologists this same question. The responses varied, but generally embraced two themes: Intelligence involves the capacity to learn from experience. Intelligence involves the ability to successfully adapt to the surrounding environment. 65 years later, 24 cognitive psychologists with expertise in intelligence research were asked the same question. They broadened the definition to include culture, pointing out that what was considered intelligent in one culture might be considered stupid in another. But that’s about as far as we’ve got. It’s much ha
