What Is the Theory of Multiple Intelligences?
The theory of multiple intelligences was developed by Harvard professor Howard Gardner, who began challenging the idea that IQ is the only true measure of intelligence back in the last century. Previously, it was believed that the higher your IQ score, the smarter you were. However, modern science shows that this isn’t entirely accurate.
For many years, Gardner worked with adults and children of different ages, analyzing their learning and work achievements. He noticed that some people solve equations quickly, while others are slower; some are drawn to music, others to literature. These differences, he realized, affect almost everything. Gardner concluded that everyone absorbs information and demonstrates abilities in their own way, and that no IQ test can truly measure a person’s intelligence.
This led to the creation of the theory of multiple intelligences, which states that each person possesses nine types of intelligence—nine different ways of being smart, each manifesting differently and responsible for different areas of our lives.
Types of Multiple Intelligences
- Verbal Intelligence
If you have strong verbal intelligence, you likely enjoy words and how they form sentences, whether in speech or writing. You love listening to and telling stories, reading books, and have a large vocabulary and a natural sense of grammar. - Musical Intelligence
If you have musical intelligence, you probably listen to music often, sing along to songs, have a good sense of rhythm, and maybe even create your own music. You can distinguish between different instruments and keys, and enjoy experimenting with musical styles. - Logical-Mathematical Intelligence
If you have logical-mathematical intelligence, you’re drawn to numbers, calculations, and the sciences. You easily remember statistics, understand programming (or can quickly pick it up), enjoy analyzing graphs and diagrams, and like to solve problems logically. - Visual-Spatial Intelligence
If you have visual-spatial intelligence, you probably prefer visualizing information, remember faces better than names, and enjoy movies and online videos. You notice clothing styles, hairstyles, car designs, or building architecture. - Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
If you have bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, you were likely great at gym class as a child and still enjoy morning exercise. You pick up physical skills easily, move gracefully, have quick reflexes, and love being active. - Social Intelligence
If you have social intelligence, you’re interested in observing people, their interactions, emotions, and reactions. You’re good at conversation, teamwork, inspiring others, and helping those in need. - Intrapersonal Intelligence
If you have intrapersonal intelligence, you know and understand yourself well—your feelings and thoughts most of the time. You can work independently, stand up for your interests and boundaries, don’t worry much about others’ opinions, and focus on what matters to you. - Naturalistic Intelligence
If you have naturalistic intelligence, you don’t get lost easily, pay attention to your surroundings, and remember routes wherever you go. You probably enjoy caring for plants and animals as well. - Philosophical (Existential) Intelligence
If you have philosophical intelligence, you often think about big questions: how the universe works, why people have different worldviews, the meaning of life, and so on. You reflect deeply, analyze the world, and consider how everything is interconnected.
Five Tips to Develop Each Type of Intelligence
As you read the descriptions, you probably recognized some types that come naturally to you and others that are more challenging or don’t feel like “you” at all. That’s completely normal, especially if you focus on one area of your life and overlook others. However, since all aspects are important for well-rounded development, here are some simple, practical tips to help you develop and maintain each type of intelligence:
Verbal Intelligence
- Write down every idea that comes to mind.
- Tell stories—whether from your life or from books you’ve read.
- If you don’t know a word, look it up in a dictionary.
- Read what interests you, whether it’s a glossy magazine or a classic novel.
- Keep a journal and write down anything you want.
Musical Intelligence
- Sing with friends or alone, even if you think you can’t sing.
- Play musical games, like “Name That Tune.”
- Listen to live music.
- Listen to music attentively: try to pick out individual instruments, transitions, keys, and timbres.
- Sign up for lessons on any instrument you like—you’ve probably wanted to try for a while!
Logical-Mathematical Intelligence
- Play strategy and logic games like checkers, chess, dominoes, or strategy games on your computer or phone.
- Read science magazines and watch science shows.
- Spend 10–15 minutes a day solving logic puzzles and riddles.
- Try simple home experiments (safely, of course).
- Pay more attention to numbers in the news.
Visual-Spatial Intelligence
- Study art—from movies to painting. Visit museums and galleries, and buy books with large illustrations.
- Draw whatever comes to mind, and sketch what’s happening around you—even if you think you can’t draw.
- Notice the world around you and photograph things you find interesting.
- Look for patterns and designs in your environment, architecture, or even road markings.
- Try communicating with friends or family using only pictures—draw and have them respond with drawings too.
Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
- Exercise regularly. You don’t have to spend hours—just make morning stretches a habit.
- Try touching your nose with your tongue, moving your ears, or raising your eyebrows one at a time—these are good brain warm-ups too.
- Play charades and use body language to explain things.
- Do crafts that involve your hands: embroidery, drawing, sewing, etc.
- Meditate. Try to feel every part of your body, tensing and relaxing your muscles one by one.
Social Intelligence
- Make new acquaintances. Set a goal to talk to a new person every day, week, or month—you decide how many.
- Volunteer. Organizations like the Red Cross, WWF, UNICEF, and many local groups need help.
- Spend more time with loved ones. Make it a tradition to gather with family or friends on Fridays, play board games, or attend events together.
- Take every opportunity to learn from others. Everyone is different, and you can always learn something new from someone else.
- Try not to judge people before you know them. It’s easy to label, but it’s not always fair. Get to know someone before making up your mind.
Intrapersonal Intelligence
- Set aside time to ask yourself, “Who am I?” Think about what kind of person you are, what matters to you, what makes you happy or upset. Write your answers down in detail.
- Make a list of what you’re good at and what you’d like to learn. Plan how to acquire a new skill.
- Set specific, achievable goals. Grand plans often lead to disappointment, so focus on realistic steps.
- Spend 10–15 minutes reflecting at the end of each day. Think about what went well, what didn’t, and how you can improve (if possible).
- Read practical psychology books—they offer valuable insights into how we work and help you understand yourself better.
Naturalistic Intelligence
- Pay more attention to the world and nature around you. Notice details and observe changes, like how a tree turns yellow in the fall or how ants work.
- Get some plants and watch how they change. If you’re not a gardener, start with easy-to-care-for plants—they’re interesting too.
- Subscribe to nature channels or watch shows about natural phenomena.
- Read books and magazines about nature.
- Collect leaves, cones, and flowers, and create your own herbarium of unusual plants.
Philosophical (Existential) Intelligence
- Watch movies with deep philosophical meaning, like “To Kill a Mockingbird” or the animated film “WALL-E.”
- Keep a journal for your thoughts about the meaning of life, the vastness of the universe, and other spiritual discoveries.
- Express your philosophical views through art—illustrate your attitude toward existential issues.
- Find a friend to discuss philosophical questions and exchange opinions with.
- Ask others deep, open-ended questions (if they’re willing), and learn about their views and attitudes toward the world.