Defining The 9 Types Of Intelligence

By Jack Flynn - Jun. 16, 2021
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We’ve all had moments where we felt inadequate — questioning why we failed that test when our friend passed or why we struggled to understand a class lesson. While that feeling is always disheartening, it’s also missing the bigger picture.

Just because you struggle with one thing, that doesn’t mean you’re not intelligent!

In fact, there are a total of nine types of intelligence, meaning that only comparing yourself to others in a traditional education setting undercuts your intelligence elsewhere. In modern types, we’ve realized that there are so many ways other than the old-school IQ test to measure intelligence.

So, where are your smarts located in these nine categories?

To figure that out, this article will examine the theory of multiple intelligences proposed by Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner, as well as explain the important distinctions.

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences in Detail

Gardener outlined the Theory of Multiple Intelligences in 1983. It suggested that the traditional, one-dimensional views of intelligence were far too limited. Instead, he proposed that there were at least eight intelligences, with the possibility of a ninth.

This theory holds merit because people have a wide range of abilities and talents other than IQ or mathematical prowess. Thus, to capture this range of abilities, there must be many kinds of intelligence. This includes musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, spatial, naturalistic, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, linguistic, and existential intelligence.

These distinctions are important because, in the real world, someone being especially strong in one area does not prevent them from being strong in another area or having a wide range of abilities across the intelligence board. Likewise, if someone struggles in one particular area, that doesn’t prevent them from excelling in other areas.

For example, an individual might struggle with interpersonal intelligence but be strong in naturalistic and existential intelligence.

While Gardner’s theory has received criticism from both psychologists and educators, it’s still highly popular among educators due to its broad approach. Many teachers utilize his theories in the classroom with much success.

This is because overall, learning more about your place in the nine intelligence can help you understand your most important strengths and weaknesses. That knowledge can help you in school, at home, or in the workplace. Just think how much easier it might be to land your dream job if you understand your most vital intelligence.

The 9 Types of Intelligence

Now that you know about the importance of the nine types of intelligence, here are detailed explanations and examples of each of them. Remember that there are times when this multiple intelligence can easily blend together or be paired for certain tasks. And, don’t feel bad if you struggle with one or two of them! The truth is, we all have our Achilles heel.

However, we think you’ll find that you’re a lot smarter than you think.

  1. Musical intelligence. Musical intelligence is what makes composers and instrument players so good at their craft. It’s all about sound, as people with this intelligence can discern important patterns, rhythms, and characteristics of different sounds. This allows them to recognize, create, perform and reflect on music.

    Additionally, this skill is not limited to people in musical fields, as passionate music listeners can easily fall under this category too. If you have musical intelligence, you might find yourself being aware of sounds that others might miss.

    It’s worth noting that there’s a noticeable connection between music and emotions. Many people with musical intelligence are able to feel and create emotion in music, which is an incredible skill.

    If you think you have musical intelligence, consider these characteristics:

    • You enjoy singing or playing musical instruments

    • You easily recognize harmonies and melodies

    • You quickly recognize musical patterns and rhythms

    • You have a deep emotional connection to music

    And, here are some of the best jobs for you if you know you have musical intelligence and a passion for music in general:

  2. Interpersonal intelligence. Interpersonal intelligence is all about understanding others and interacting with them effectively. This involves not only verbal communication but also nonverbal or behavioral insight. These skills allow them to read the emotions, motivations, desires, and intentions of others with ease.

    For example, if you’ve ever felt that you’re able to easily read the moods of others or understand their perspective, you may just have interpersonal intelligence. You can also think back to that teacher or therapist who always knew how you were feeling or politicians who are able to sway the masses.

    If you think you have interpersonal intelligence, consider these characteristics:

    If you know you have strong interpersonal skills, here are some great career options for you:

  3. Intrapersonal intelligence. Though sounding similar to the previous intelligence listed, intrapersonal intelligence relates to your capacity to understand yourself. i.e., your thoughts, emotions, and knowledge that allow you to navigate your life. People with this intelligence know how to appreciate themselves and the human condition, which in turn leads them to be very aware and self-motivated.

    Overall, this intelligence is all about using introspection and self-reflection to your advantage. With it, you can have better decision-making skills and more.

    Here are some common characteristics associated with intrapersonal intelligence:

    • You’re able to analyze your strengths and weaknesses in detail

    • You enjoy being engrossed in theories and ideas

    • You’re highly self-aware

    • You know what motivates you and what upsets you

    With that in mind, if you have strong intrapersonal intelligence, you might want to consider these career options:

  4. Spatial intelligence. Our world is three-dimensional, and spatial intelligence hones in on your ability to think three-dimensionally. For instance, this intelligence encompasses spatial reasoning, image manipulation, and imagination.

    This can manifest in the form of puzzle-solving, as well as creative or artistic ability. If you find that you’re good with directions, maps, charts, videos, and pictures, you may just have this intelligence.

    Here are the most common characteristics of someone with spatial intelligence:

    • You find it easy to visualize the setting or characters when you read and write

    • You’re good at assembling puzzles

    • You find it easy to interpret patterns, pictures, and maps

    • You enjoy things like drawing, painting or photography

    And, if that sounds like you, here are some jobs that might suit you:

  5. Naturalist intelligence. There’s a whole world around us to explore and understand. When it comes to the ability to distinguish between different parts of the natural world and use them to our advantage, we use our naturalist intelligence.

    How to start a fire, identify which plants are poisonous or edible, or be able to recognize storm clouds all fall under this intelligence.

    Even though naturalist intelligence is somewhat newly recognized, it’s been with us since the dawn of our species. After all, once upon a time, most of us were farmers or hunter-gatherers. If you feel like you’re highly in tune with nature and the world around you, you might just have this intelligence.

    Here are more signs of naturalist intelligence:

    • You’ve always excelled in subjects like botany, biology, and zoology

    • You’re able to categorize and catalog important information with ease

    • You’ve always enjoyed animals and outdoor activities

    • You understand the balance of the natural world around you

    If that sounds like you, you might want to consider these career options:

  6. Logical-mathematical intelligence. You don’t necessarily have to be a calculus genius to have logical-mathematical intelligence. Simply put, this intelligence outlines your ability to calculate, quantify, and consider probable outcomes.

    These individuals often excel at completing mathematical operations, working with numbers, or developing effective strategies.

    A lot of this comes down to perceiving patterns and connections and then combining that with inductive and deductive reasoning skills. If you have this kind of intelligence, you might find yourself especially interested in patterns, categories, and relationships. You might enjoy solving problems or playing strategy games too.

    Here are more characteristics of people with high logical-mathematical intelligence:

    • You’ve always had exceptional problem-solving skills

    • You have no problem tackling abstract ideas

    • You enjoy conducting experiments

    • You’re able to solve equations and work with numbers

    With that in mind, here are some great career options for people with this intelligence:

  7. Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence. Intelligence is also not limited to thinking and reasoning, as bodily-kinesthetic intelligence encompasses your ability to manipulate objects and make use of your physical body.

    People who’ve mastered this form of intelligence are able to perfectly blend their mind and body. This gives them better body movement and physical control when performing physical tasks.

    You might have this intelligence if you excel at sports or have noticeably good hand-eye coordination.

    Here are some more characteristics of people with bodily-kinesthetic intelligence:

    • You’re a skilled dancer or excel at various sports

    • You enjoy using your hands to invent and create objects

    • You have great coordination

    • You learn by doing, rather than reading or listening

    If you think that describes you, here are some great career options for people with bodily-kinesthetic intelligence:

  8. Linguistic intelligence. Language is one of the most complex and useful communication tools humans have ever invented. With that in mind, linguistic intelligence outlines our ability to use language to comprehend and express complex meanings.

    People with this intelligence can use words to teach and persuade others while also reflecting on their internal thoughts. They’re often good readers, writers and can easily memorize information.

    If you think you have this intelligence, here are some other common characteristics to look out for:

    • You can remember a great deal of written and spoken information

    • You pick up new words and concepts quickly

    • You enjoy participating in debates and giving speeches

    • You’re a great storyteller

    If that sounds like you, you might also want to consider these career options:

  9. Existential intelligence. Existential Intelligence is our last and most recent addition to the types of intelligence. It encompasses your ability to tackle deep questions about human existence and address unsettling unknowns about our universe.

    Existential thought includes things like discussing the meaning of life, why we die, or how we came into existence. It can also branch out to topics much wider than the human experience.

    If you enjoy thinking in this way or find yourself thinking this way unintentionally, you probably have this form of intelligence. With that in mind, here are some other common characteristics of existential intelligence:

    • You’ve always excelled in philosophy and psychology

    • You enjoy pondering on questions that have no definitive answer

    • You like to find meaning in things or to question meaning altogether

    • You like going out of the comfort zone when discussing topics or hearing other perspectives

    If that sounds like you, here are some careers you could consider:

Final Thoughts

Every single one of us is a unique individual with our own experiences, talents, and intelligence. Knowing where your most heightened intelligence lies can not only help you succeed but also allow you to find more joy in what you choose to pursue over the course of your life.

If you know you excel at something or enjoy it, don’t be afraid to go after related careers. Start searching for a job and lifestyle that matches your intelligence today!

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Author

Jack Flynn

Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.

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Topics: Definition, Glossary