Theories Cognitive Psychology Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial process Kendra Cherry Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by David Susman, PhD on July 28, 2021 David Susman, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience providing treatment to individuals with mental illness and substance use concerns. Learn about our Review Board David Susman, PhD on July 28, 2021 Print When you hear the word intelligence, the concept of IQ testing may immediately come to mind. Intelligence is often defined as our intellectual potential; something we are born with, something that can be measured, and a capacity that is difficult to change. In recent years, however, other views of intelligence have emerged. One such conception is the theory of multiple intelligences proposed by Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner. Illustration by JR Bee, Verywell Theory of Multiple Intelligences This theory suggests that traditional psychometric views of intelligence are too limited. Gardner first outlined his theory in his 1983 book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, where he suggested that all people have different kinds of "intelligences." Gardner proposed that there are eight intelligences, and has suggested the possible addition of a ninth known as "existentialist intelligence." In order to capture the full range of abilities and talents that people possess, Gardner theorizes that people do not have just an intellectual capacity, but have many kinds of intelligence, including musical, interpersonal, spatial-visual, and linguistic intelligences. While a person might be particularly strong in a specific area, such as musical intelligence, he or she most likely possesses a range of abilities. For example, an individual might be strong in verbal, musical, and naturalistic intelligence. Criticism Gardner’s theory has come under criticism from both psychologists and educators. These critics argue that Gardner’s definition of intelligence is too broad and that his eight different "intelligences" simply represent talents, personality traits, and abilities. Gardner’s theory also suffers from a lack of supporting empirical research. Despite this, the theory of multiple intelligences enjoys considerable popularity with educators. Many teachers utilize multiple intelligences in their teaching philosophies and work to integrate Gardner’s theory into the classroom. Learning more about the multiple intelligences can help you better understand your own strengths. Continue reading to learn more about the major characteristics of each type of intelligence, and if you still aren't sure which type describes you best, this quiz can help you figure it out. 1 Visual-Spatial Intelligence People who are strong in visual-spatial intelligence are good at visualizing things. These individuals are often good with directions as well as maps, charts, videos, and pictures. Strengths Visual and spatial judgment Characteristics People with visual-spatial intelligence: Read and write for enjoyment Are good at putting puzzles together Interpret pictures, graphs, and charts well Enjoy drawing, painting, and the visual arts Recognize patterns easily Potential Career Choices If you're strong in visual-spatial intelligence, good career choices for you are: Architect Artist Engineer 2 Linguistic-Verbal Intelligence People who are strong in linguistic-verbal intelligence are able to use words well, both when writing and speaking. These individuals are typically very good at writing stories, memorizing information, and reading. Strengths Words, language, and writing Characteristics People with linguistic-verbal intelligence: Remember written and spoken information Enjoy reading and writing Debate or give persuasive speeches Are able to explain things well Use humor when telling stories Potential Career Choices If you're strong in linguistic-verbal intelligence, good career choices for you are: Writer/journalist Lawyer Teacher 3 Logical-Mathematical Intelligence People who are strong in logical-mathematical intelligence are good at reasoning, recognizing patterns, and logically analyzing problems. These individuals tend to think conceptually about numbers, relationships, and patterns. Strengths Analyzing problems and mathematical operations Characteristics People with logical-mathematical intelligence: Have excellent problem-solving skills Enjoy thinking about abstract ideas Like conducting scientific experiments Can solve complex computations Potential Career Choices If you're strong in logical-mathematical intelligence, good career choices for you are: Scientist Mathematician Computer programmer Engineer Accountant 4 Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence Those who have high bodily-kinesthetic intelligence are said to be good at body movement, performing actions, and physical control. People who are strong in this area tend to have excellent hand-eye coordination and dexterity. Strengths Physical movement, motor control Characteristics People with bodily-kinesthetic intelligence: Are skilled at dancing and sports Enjoy creating things with his or her hands Have excellent physical coordination Remember by doing, rather than hearing or seeing Potential Career Choices If you're strong in bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, good career choices for you are: Dancer Builder Sculptor Actor 5 Musical Intelligence People who have strong musical intelligence are good at thinking in patterns, rhythms, and sounds. They have a strong appreciation for music and are often good at musical composition and performance. Strengths Rhythm and music Characteristics People with musical intelligence: Enjoy singing and playing musical instruments Recognize musical patterns and tones easily Remember songs and melodies Have a rich understanding of musical structure, rhythm, and notes Potential Career Choices If you're strong in musical intelligence, good career choices for you are: Musician Composer Singer Music teacher Conductor 6 Interpersonal Intelligence Those who have strong interpersonal intelligence are good at understanding and interacting with other people. These individuals are skilled at assessing the emotions, motivations, desires, and intentions of those around them. Strengths Understanding and relating to other people Characteristics People with interpersonal intelligence: Communicate well verbally Are skilled at nonverbal communication See situations from different perspectives Create positive relationships with others Resolve conflicts in group settings Potential Career Choices If you're strong in interpersonal intelligence, good career choices for you are: Psychologist Philosopher Counselor Salesperson Politician 7 Intrapersonal Intelligence Individuals who are strong in intrapersonal intelligence are good at being aware of their own emotional states, feelings, and motivations. They tend to enjoy self-reflection and analysis, including daydreaming, exploring relationships with others, and assessing their personal strengths. Strengths Introspection and self-reflection Characteristics People with intrapersonal intelligence: Analyze their strengths and weaknesses well Enjoy analyzing theories and ideas Have excellent self-awareness Understand the basis for his or her own motivations and feelings Potential Career Choices If you're strong in intrapersonal intelligence, good career choices for you are: Philosopher Writer Theorist Scientist 8 Naturalistic Intelligence Naturalistic is the most recent addition to Gardner’s theory and has been met with more resistance than his original seven intelligences. According to Gardner, individuals who are high in this type of intelligence are more in tune with nature and are often interested in nurturing, exploring the environment, and learning about other species. These individuals are said to be highly aware of even subtle changes to their environments. Strengths Finding patterns and relationships to nature Characteristics People with naturalistic intelligence: Are interested in subjects such as botany, biology, and zoology Categorize and catalog information easily Enjoy camping, gardening, hiking, and exploring the outdoors Dislikes learning unfamiliar topics that have no connection to nature Potential Career Choices If you're strong in naturalistic intelligence, good career choices for you are: Biologist Conservationist Gardener Farmer Theories of Intelligence in Psychology Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Ever wonder what your personality type means? Sign up to find out more in our Healthy Mind newsletter. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Bakić-mirić N. Implementation of multiple intelligences theory in the English language course syllabus at the University of Nis Medical School. Srp Arh Celok Lek. 2010;138(1-2):105-10. Cerruti C. Building a functional multiple intelligences theory to advance educational neuroscience. Front Psychol. 2013;4:950. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00950 Levine SC, Ratliff KR, Huttenlocher J, Cannon J. Early puzzle play: a predictor of preschoolers' spatial transformation skill. Dev Psychol. 2012;48(2):530-42. doi:10.1037/a0025913 Singh Y, Makharia A, Sharma A, Agrawal K, Varma G, Yadav T. A study on different forms of intelligence in Indian school-going children. Ind Psychiatry J. 2017;26(1):71-76. doi:10.4103/ipj.ipj_61_16 Sternberg RJ. Intelligence. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2012;14(1):19-27. Additional Reading Gardner H. On the Three Faces of Intelligence. Daedalus.Winter 2002;131(1):139-142. Gardner H. A Multiplicity of Intelligences. Published 2004. Gardner H. Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. New York: Basic Books; 1983. Gardner H. Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century. New York: Basic Books; 1999.