- What is spatial intelligence?
- Characteristics of spatial intelligence
- Everyday examples of spatial intelligence
- How does spatial intelligence develop?
- Other types of intelligence
We explain what spatial intelligence is, how it develops, its characteristics and examples. Also, other types of intelligence.
What is spatial intelligence?
Spatial intelligence is the ability of a person to visualize, form and represent ideas or mental images from different angles. This allows the individual to think in three dimensions and understand the shape of the figures or of the space regardless of the perspective from which they are perceived.
This concept is related to the rotation of objects in the mind since it implies the developing of a mental image that is formed based on what the senses perceive (colors, lines, shapes, figures, dimensions and the relationship between them).
Spatial intelligence does not depend solely on the ability of sight and other senses, but comes from a set of abilities abstract and analytical mentalities that go beyond the sensory senses.
It is the type of intelligence that allows you to imagine a three-dimensional space and perform various tasks, for example, parking a vehicle, building a model, orienting yourself or manipulating a complex tool.
Characteristics of spatial intelligence
Spatial intelligence is one of the eight types of intelligence included in the “Theory of multiple intelligences”Raised by Howard Gardner in 1983 and, according to him, is one of the most important. It is about the ability to understand three-dimensional images and shapes.
The part of the brain that performs this function is located in the right hemisphere. This ability allows you to solve puzzles, understand maps and work on Projects construction or engineering, among others.
People with highly developed spatial intelligence excel at mental interpretation of objects. They are usually good draftsmen or artists, enjoy building things, and are good at games ingenuity such as chess, where it is necessary to apply spatial intelligence to plan the possible movements.
In these games, the individual must visualize on the board the variety of possible movements and in advance, not only the piece that will move at that precise moment. Also, you have to imagine the moves your opponent will make.
Everyday examples of spatial intelligence
Some examples of spatial intelligence in everyday life are:
- A tennis player who calculates the moment of impact of the ball on his racket and guides it to take the address desired.
- A soccer player who calculates the speed of his opponents and his teammates, as well as the distance to the goal, before passing the ball.
- A person who correctly solves the “Rubik's cube” game has to think in three dimensions and focus on one color at a time to form the different faces of the cube.
- A person who has a sense of direction can visualize a path and reproduce a mental image with another perspective, to take a faster alternative route.
- A person who organizes the messy elements of his kitchen, first has to mentally imagine what would be the best space for each object, so that they take up little space and are accessible.
How does spatial intelligence develop?
Spatial intelligence can be developed to enhance its potential. Some studies in children suggest that there are close links between spatial intelligence and spatial vocabulary (words like "between," "up," "down," and "near").
According to these investigations, those children who knew more spatial words were able to make better spatial reproductions when playing with blocks and later they were able to have better mental images in three dimensions.
The experiments also demonstrate the importance of reminding parents to use spatial language in order to stimulate children. It is not about the child learning as many terms as possible, but developing a correct understanding of how shapes can be moved, transformed and joined.
Other types of intelligence
Other 7 types of intelligence, in addition to spatial, that were raised in the "theory of multiple intelligences" of Gardner, are:
- Linguistic-verbal intelligence. It is related to the domain of the word, the language and the writing. People who develop this type of intelligence are usually writers, lawyers, journalists or teachers.
- Logical-mathematical intelligence. It is related to the analysis of problems, calculations and operations of exact Sciences. People who develop this type of intelligence are usually scientists, mathematicians, programmers, engineers or accountants.
- Body kinesthetic intelligence. It is related to the domain of body movement and coordination of physical actions. People who develop this type of intelligence are usually dancers, competitive athletes, builders, sculptors or actors.
- Musical intelligence. It is related to the ability to monitor the rhythm of the music, and of thinking through patterns and sounds. People who develop this type of intelligence are usually musicians, composers, singers or music teachers.
- Interpersonal intelligence. It is related to the ability to understand when interacting with other people (capturing emotions, motivations and wishes of others). People who develop this type of intelligence are usually psychologists, philosophers, advisers, salesmen or politicians.
- Intrapersonal intelligence. It is related to the capacity for introspection and self-reflection, that is, a high level of consciousness to understand one's own feelings and emotions. People who develop this type of intelligence are usually philosophers, writers, theorists, and scientists.
- Naturalistic intelligence. It is related to the ability to recognize, classify and use elements of the environment. People who develop this type of intelligence are often biologists, conservationists, gardeners, and farmers.
In addition to Gardner's theory, there are different researchers who propose other definitions that seek to explain the nature of human intelligence. Among the main theories are:
- General intelligence. The British psychologist Charles Spearman (1863-1945) concluded that intelligence is a Cognitive ability general that can be measured and expressed numerically through a test of fitness called "factor analysis."
- Primary mental abilities. The American psychologist Louis L. Thurstone (1887-1955) posited intelligence as a set of different primary abilities (rather than a single ability) that encompasses verbal comprehension, reasoning, the speed of perception, numerical ability, word fluency, associative memory and view space.
- The triarchic theory of intelligence. American psychologist Robert Jeffrey Sternberg agrees with Gardner that intelligence is broader than a single ability, but argued that some proposed types of intelligence were just talents of the individual. Instead, he holds three intelligence factors: analytical, creative, and practical.