Definitions of Intelligence

1. Thorndike: Intelligence is the ability of an individual to make profitable use of past experience.

2. Grrett: Intelligence is the ability needed to solve problems requiring comprehension and the use of symbols.

3. Brown: Intelligence is the ability of an individual to adjust to environmental conditions.

4. Binet: Intelligence is the ability to judge well, reason logically, understand well, and act purposefully.

5. Skinner: Intelligence is the organization of abilities to learn facts, exercise mental control, and be flexible in problem-solving.

6. Gardner: Intelligence is the capacity to respond to new situations and learn from past experiences.

Types of Intelligence According to Thorndike

Thorndike categorized intelligence into three types:

1. Abstract Intelligence (Cognitive Ability):

   • Ability to understand and deal with verbal and mathematical symbols.
   • Professionals often excel in abstract intelligence.
   • Example: A farmer recognizing mineral deficiencies across various crops based on prior knowledge.

2. Mechanical Intelligence:

   • Involves the ability to handle objects and work with tools.
   • More related to mechanical skills and hands-on activities.
   • Example: A farmer performing spraying operations more efficiently due to superior mechanical skills.

3. Social Intelligence:

   • Involves understanding and dealing with people and human relationships.
   • Occupations requiring negotiation, sales, and diplomacy (e.g., salesperson, politician) rely heavily on social intelligence.

Factors Affecting Intelligence

1. Heredity and Environment:

   • Intelligence is a combination of inherited traits and environmental influences.
   • Heredity: Refers to biological factors that shape physical and mental traits.
   • Environment: Includes factors like education, social interactions, and socio-economic status.
   • Newman suggests 68% of intelligence is determined by heredity and 32% by the environment.

2. Age:

   • Intelligence peaks around 20 years and remains stable until approximately 70 years, after which it declines due to physiological aging.

3. Health and Physical Development:

   • Physical and mental health are closely linked.
   • Malnutrition, illness, or physical defects often result in subnormal intelligence levels.

4. Race:

   • Race itself does not directly affect intelligence.
   • However, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds may impact intellectual abilities.

5. Sex:

   • Crow and Crow observed that males tend to excel in mathematical and scientific tasks, while females excel in humanities like literature, fine arts, and history.

6. Social and Economic Conditions:

   • A stable and affluent social environment fosters better mental and physical development.

7. Culture:

   • Cultural practices shape attitudes, beliefs, and social interactions, thereby influencing intellectual development.

Theories of Intelligence

1. Connection Theory (Thorndike)

   • Suggests that intelligence depends on neural connections between stimulus and response.
   • Intelligence is seen as a collection of distinct mental abilities rather than a single general intelligence.
   • For instance, someone might excel in mathematics but struggle with social interactions.

2. Two-Factor Theory (Spearman)

   • Proposes two main factors of intelligence:
     • General Intelligence (G Factor): A universal mental energy present across all activities.
     • Specific Abilities (S Factors): Unique skills and talents in areas like mathematics, language, etc.

3. Group Factor Theory (Thurstone)

   • Suggests that intelligence is composed of multiple mental abilities, each operating independently but forming a cohesive group.

Measurement of Intelligence

1. Binet Test of General Intelligence

   • Developed by Alfred Binet to assess school children’s mental age.
   • It demonstrated that intellectual capacity increases with age.

2. Mental Maturity

   • Mental maturity is usually reached between the 14th and 18th years, with the 15th year being a generally accepted benchmark.

3. Mental Age and Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

   • Mental Age (M.A.): Indicates intellectual development compared to peers.
     • Example: A child with an M.A. of 8 but a chronological age of 6 would be advanced by two years.
   • IQ Formula (William Stern): IQ=(Mental Age/ Chronological Age)×100

4. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale

   • Measures intelligence through multiple tests and tasks, avoiding limitations of the mental age formula.

Categorization of Intelligence Levels

Importance of Intelligence in Extension Work

1. Adaptability to Environment:

   • Intelligence depends on the complexity of the environment and the kind of training received.

2. Stability with Consistent Conditions:

   • Intelligence remains consistent under stable health, education, and situational conditions.

3. Hereditary and Environmental Contributions:

   • Variability in intelligence can be attributed to either heredity or environmental factors.

4. Utilizing Gifted Individuals:

   • Gifted individuals with higher intelligence can contribute significantly when provided with opportunities for accelerated growth.

5. Identifying Special Needs in Rural Areas:

   • Extension workers must identify mentally challenged individuals and provide targeted training in agricultural technologies.

6. Effective Communication and Teaching:

   • Tailoring teaching techniques according to the intelligence levels of farmers ensures smoother adoption of innovative agricultural practices.