REBLOG: intelligence vs. experience

REBLOG: intelligence vs. experience

Can anybody give me a definition for intelligence? One without the word 'smart'? Although this varies from person to person, I'll give you a textbook definition: a hypothetical mental ability that allows us to direct our thinking, adapt our circumstances, and learn from our experiences... not to be confused with 'smartness'.

Contrary to popular belief, intelligence is not a single entity. It doesn't contribute to overall smartness. We just happen to be gifted in specific areas. (though genetics is variable to some tasks and race has been suggested to play a role in intelligence) For instance, Shakespeare was undeniably a prolific writer, but he may not be able to fire out algebraic problems. Stereotypically, I'm suppose to be really good at math but I may not be the best writer or be good at science. The only thing separating us from Albert Einstein is just overabundance of glial cells, and even he has his weaknesses.

For many of us who seek higher education, it is almost always required to submit SAT scores, as a way for colleges to measure how successful you will be at school. This predictive validity is far from perfect and isn't an accurate measure of 'smartness' or even how successful you can be. The idea of colleges heavily weighing SAT scores is a bit discouraging to me. It is also discouraging to feel like this test makes or break your future. Keep in mind that we all have different specific abilities and mid-level abilities that contribute to a memory.

With that said, explore and experience!