Understanding the theory of multiple intelligences and its application in psychology

Human intelligence can be a fascinating area of study with many psychological applications. You may be familiar with the concepts of visual learners, auditory learners, and kinesthetic learners. Each of us has strengths and weaknesses regarding our intelligence and learning styles; however, intelligence as a concept and how it relates to humans may be far more complex.

Some might have trouble reading and writing but can perform athletic feats with power and finesse. Some may have social challenges but flourish in logical and abstract thinking. Howard Gardner is an American psychologist behind the theory of multiple intelligences. This article explores these nine types and how they apply to education and mental health care.

Exploring Howard Gardner’s theory

Howard Gardner initially proposed six types of intelligence, which has since expanded to nine. Gardner originally compiled his research theory as a helpful resource for educators in structuring a classroom curriculum that can adequately reach various intelligences. In a method of instruction called “pluralizing your teaching,” Gardner recommends incorporating different instruction styles to communicate concepts effectively. 

No single student learns precisely like another. While employing various teaching styles in a curriculum does not guarantee that every student will grasp the concepts communicated, Gardner believed that appealing to those with spatial-visual intelligence, bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, existential intelligence, and other intelligence styles can increase overall classroom understanding and reception of ideas. 

While “learning style” is often associated with Gardner and his theory on multiple intelligences, Gardner denies that “learning styles” and intelligence types are the same. He states that a “learning style” is more broad and ill-defined. Educators can utilize Gardner’s more refined and specific theory to diversify their approach to the curriculum and potentially be more effective instructors and communicators as a result. 

The nine types of intelligence

The theory of multiple intelligences affirms the idea that humans are complex and multifaceted beings. While humans can develop intellectual strength in various areas, most individuals have unique strengths in specific areas. The currently understood nine types of intelligence include:

• Verbal-linguistic intelligence: Well-developed verbal skills and sensitivity to the sounds, meanings, and rhythms of words
• Logical-mathematical intelligence: The ability to think conceptually and abstractly and the capacity to discern logical and numerical patterns
• Spatial-visual intelligence: A capacity to think in images and pictures and to visualize accurately and abstractly
• Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence: One’s ability to control body movements and manipulate objects skillfully
• Musical intelligence: The ability to produce and appreciate rhythm, pitch, and timbre
• Interpersonal intelligence: A capacity to detect and respond appropriately to the moods, motivations, and desires of others
• Intrapersonal intelligence: Self-awareness and attunement with inner feelings, values, beliefs, and thinking processes
• Naturalist intelligence: A talent for recognizing and categorizing plants, animals, and other objects in nature
• Existential intelligence: Sensitivity and capacity to tackle deep questions about human existence, such as, “What is the meaning of life?” “Why do we die?” or “How did we get here?”

Applying the theory of multiple intelligences in education

While the possibility of expansion remains open, individuals and educators may use the current nine types of intelligence to develop curriculum, plan and explore individualized instruction, select course activities, and develop assignments and strategies. What might this look like? Let’s consider different examples based on the nine types of intelligence:

• Verbal-linguistic intelligence: Instead of providing all summative assessments in the form of multiple-choice tests, teachers can encourage certain students to demonstrate their learning through an essay or speech
• Logical-mathematical intelligence: Teachers can motivate students through gamified learning, where students work in teams to identify mathematical patterns or similarities among different events in history
• Spatial-visual intelligence: To make math more engaging, assign a project where students use geometric principles to design their dream house
• Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence: After a long day of sitting at desks, some students may benefit from a movement break. Educators can also design a formative assessment that involves moving to one of four corners of the room to identify which answer (A, B, C, or D) they think is correct (when given a multiple-choice question)
• Musical intelligence: For students who may struggle to articulate their learning with words, suggest an alternative assignment of creating a playlist that illustrates concepts like the progression of a particular war or the influence of a certain sphere of thought
• Interpersonal intelligence: Incorporate social-emotional learning activities like restorative justice circles or active listening exercises to foster communication and collaboration within small groups
• Intrapersonal intelligence: Some students who struggle with mental health conditions like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may benefit from practicing daily meditation or mindfulness
• Naturalist intelligence: Weigh the benefits of taking a science experiment outside and tasking students with identifying different phenomena in nature (i.e., the water cycle, weather, climate change)
• Existential intelligence: Facilitate Socratic seminars, or student-led discussions, to help students practice posing open-ended questions, considering multiple perspectives, and using citing evidence to support their claims

Applying the theory of multiple intelligences in mental health

Whether or not you’re an educator, Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory can still apply to your daily life and mental health. You might be curious as to what forms of intelligence you possess or why you seem to think differently from others and might be more adept at some areas where others might not be. 

Alternatively, you might wonder how your specific intelligence type could relate to your mental health and wish to use that insight to develop a therapeutic approach that fits you. 

In this case, online therapy can be a beneficial resource. Therapy on its own aims to help us explore ourselves, and online therapy can offer flexibility in scheduling and finding the right licensed professional who fits your specific mental health needs. You can choose which format works for you based on your learning and intelligence styles, such as video calls so you can see your therapist’s reactions and they can see yours, phone calls if you do better without visual distractions, or texting if you find it difficult to verbalize your feelings.

Online therapy can help people pinpoint the type of intelligence style that fits them, providing potential insight into their mental health and improving their daily lives. Additionally, research has demonstrated that online therapy delivers a quality of care equal to in-person therapy.

Below are some of the ways in which online therapy participants can collaborate with their counselors to hone their multiple intelligences:

• Verbal-linguistic intelligence: Sharpen communication skills to help advocate for a promotion or greater responsibility at work
• Logical-mathematical intelligence: Identify spending patterns that may be leading you to experience increased stress or anxiety
• Spatial-visual intelligence: Tapping into one’s five senses can help to experience more profound benefits of evidence-based stress relief practices, like mindfulness and meditation
• Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence: Identify beneficial outlets for releasing negative energy that also uses your affinity for exercise and sports, such as joining an ultimate frisbee team or training for a half marathon
• Musical intelligence: Composing a musical arrangement with the intent of processing childhood trauma
• Interpersonal intelligence: Developing your active listening skills to potentially get along better with your romantic partner, children, or professional colleagues
• Intrapersonal intelligence: Adopting a curious approach to understanding why certain triggers lead you to choose harmful coping mechanisms, like excessive drinking, and then working with your therapist to learn how to increase the gap between a stimulus and your response
• Naturalist intelligence: Spending time in nature can help the healing process from a challenging life experience, such as the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a similar disappointment
• Existential intelligence: Working with a therapist to identify your life’s purpose or goals, regardless of your life stage

The suggestions mentioned above are only a few ways to collaborate with an online therapist as you grow as a person, build self-confidence, and practice better coping skills. Regardless of why you enter online therapy, you can expect a tailored approach from BetterHelp practitioners.

Takeaway

Gardner’s theory of diversifying a curriculum to meet the needs of students with various intelligence types can help educators communicate concepts more effectively. Additionally, the theory may help students better understand their intellectual strengths and preferred learning methods. 

Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences can be highly applicable outside of the classroom. Gaining insight into your intelligence type may provide a new outlook on your own strengths, potential, and overall well-being. To enlist empowering guidance in your journey of self-discovery, reach out to an online counselor at BetterHelp for tailored support.