INTELLIGENCE

Intelligence is a key area of study in the subject of Behaviour, as it helps explain how individuals process information, interact socially, and respond emotionally and spiritually to their environment. It includes various forms such as emotional, social, cognitive, spiritual, and natural intelligence, each contributing uniquely to human behaviour. The concept also involves understanding characteristics of intelligence, its measurement through Intelligence Quotient (IQ), and perspectives from the Indian context.

Previous year Questions

Year	Question	Narks
2023	Define Intelligence as proposed by David Wechsler.	2M
2023	What kind of competencies are identified as facets of Intelligence in the Indian tradition ?	2M
2021	Define intelligence.	2M
2021	What is meant by Emotional Intelligence?	2M
2018	What is Emotional Intelligence ?	2M
2018	Explain Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligence.	5M
2016	What is Emotional Intelligence ?	2M
2016Special	What is Social Intelligence ?	2M

Intelligence

Many psychologists have attempted to define intelligence. In 1923, Boring offered a definition, and later, others suggested intelligence could be divided into three aspects: 

• Adaptability to the environment
• Learning ability
• Abstract reasoning

Eventually, It was seen as a set of abilities. Definitions of intelligence from various psychologists include:

1. Alfred Binet (1905): intelligence is “the ability to judge well, understand well, and reason well.”
2. David Weschler (1958):intelligence is “the aggregate or global capacity of an individual to act purposefully, think rationally, and deal effectively with his environment.”
3. Robinson and Robinson (1965): intelligence reflects problem-solving, adaptation, abstract thinking, and learning from experience.
4. Neisser et al. (1996): intelligence involves understanding complex ideas, adapting to the environment, reasoning, and overcoming obstacles.
5. Gardner and Sternberg: intelligence is not only adapting to the environment but also modifying or shaping it

Nature of Intelligence

• It combines various abilities.
• It helps a person use insight and past experiences to solve problems.
• It leads to purposeful actions. Significant actions show intelligence, while aimless ones do not.
• It allows a person to adapt well to their environment, enhancing their persuasive nature.
• It enables abstract and rational thinking.
• A highly intelligent person can handle difficult tasks after understanding them.

From all the above points, it is clear that understanding the nature of intelligence requires more than one factor and ability. In this context, Thurstone (1938) identified a total of 7 abilities of intelligence. Guilford (1967) identified 150 abilities of intelligence. Thurstone referred to these abilities as primary mental abilities.

Characteristics of Intelligence

1. Intelligence is an innate ability of an individual.
2. It enables an individual to effectively adapt to the environment.
3. It provides the ability to engage in abstract thinking.
4. It motivates an individual to engage in purposeful actions.
5. It helps individuals benefit from past experiences.
6. It is a combination of multiple mental abilities.
7. It provides insight for solving problems.
8. With It, an individual can think wisely, logically, and coherently on different subjects.

Intelligence in Indian context

Intelligence in Indian tradition can be termed as ‘Integral intelligence’ which gives emphasis on connectivity to social and world environments. Unlike the Western views which primarily focused on cognitive parameters, Indian thinkers view It as a Cognitive and Non-cognitive process. According to the Indian context “intelligence is an integrated ability which highlights developing and enhancing abilities in social and global reference”. These capacities are included in intelligence:

1. Cognitive Competence: Understanding, discrimination ability, problem solving, effective communication etc.
2. Social Competence: Social thinking, respect to social systems and rules, social harmony etc.
3. Emotional Competence: Emotional maturity, emotional control, self-evaluation, courtesy, good conduct etc.
4. Entrepreneurial Competence: Commitment, hard work, patience, goal-directed behaviour etc.

Various types of intelligence in Indian context – 

1. Yukti (Practical, Problem solving intelligence)
   1. Ex – Lord Ganesha – buddhi ke devta – Problem solver
2. Pragya (Intuition based intelligence)
   1. Ex – A sage predicting future 
3. Chintan (Deep contemplation and reasoning)
   1. Ex – Atm Chintan (Self reflection) by Tulsidas ji 
4. Jnana (Understanding and learning texts)
   1. Ex – Knowledge of vedic texts 
5. Vivek (Discrimination between right and wrong)
   1. Ex – Vidura in Mahabharat 
6. Spiritual intelligence
   1. Ex – Buddha, mahavira 
7. Social intelligence
   1. Ex – Senior citizen considered more intelligent in indian Society because of their social capital 

Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

In 1912, William Stern, a German psychologist, devised the concept of Intelligence Quotient (IQ). IQ refers to mental age divided by chronological age, and multiplied by 100.

People with IQ scores in the range – 

• 70 to 84 – Borderline mental disability
• 90 to 110 –  Normal intelligence.
• 115 to 129 – Above average or bright

Historical records show that Einstein had an Intelligence Quotient above 160. 

Emotional Intelligence

A good IQ and academic success don’t guarantee life success. Many academically talented people face issues in family, work, and relationships. Psychologists suggest that this may be due to a lack of emotional intelligence. This concept was first introduced by Salovey and Mayer and popularised by Daniel Goleman. There are three primary models of EI: the ability model (Mayer & Salovey), mixed models (Bar-On; Boyatzis & Sala), and the trait EI model (Petrides & Furnham)

Ability Model of EI

The Ability Model of Emotional Intelligence (EI) conceptualizes EI as a standard form of intelligence comprising a distinct set of mental abilities. 

• Salovey and Mayer (1977) defined emotional intelligence as “the ability to monitor one’s own and other’s emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use the information to guide one’s thinking and actions“. This definition covers four aspects of EI they are emotional perception, emotional integration, emotional understanding, and emotional management. These four abilities are known as Ability Model.
• Emotional Perception – Through facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language
• Emotional integration – Integrating emotions in thinking [to take a decision]
• Emotional understanding – For example, A teacher understands that poor performance of a child is not because of lack of study but family problems at home 
• Emotional management – To regulate one’s own emotions and others [Ex – An RPS officer during crowd control]

Mixed and Trait Models of EI

It offers a comprehensive perspective by integrating cognitive abilities with personality traits such as optimism, motivation, and stress tolerance. This approach provides a broader understanding of EI, encompassing both mental competencies and characteristic behaviors. 

The two most widely used mixed models are the Boyatzis-Goleman model and the Bar-On model of emotional-social intelligence

• Goleman(1998) in his widely acclaimed book, ‘Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ?’, clearly explained that only 20% of life’s successes are due to IQ, while the remaining 80% are attributed to emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence, according to him , is “the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves and for managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships. Emotional intelligence describes abilities distinct from but complementary to academic intelligence or the purely cognitive capacities measured by IQ.”

The theory of intelligence proposes four types of emotional competencies which make the unique identity of an individual:

• Self Awareness: The ability to understand own emotions, strengths, and weaknesses.
  • Introspection, Awareness about ones SWOT, Feedback
• Self Management: The ability to manage motives and balance behavior
  • Self control, Ability to delay gratification(Mars mallow experiment)
• Self Motivation – Passion and optimism
• Social Awareness: The ability to understand other people’s deeds, expressions, and causes
  • Empathy, Extroversion
• Social Skills: The ability to achieve personal goals through behavioral management in society
  • Team work, Leadership skills etc 

According to Goleman, in various fields of life, emotional competence is needed. Therefore, he has coined his model as the ‘Theory of performance.’ [Mixed Model]

The Trait Model 

The Trait Model defines EI as a collection of emotional self-perceptions located within an individual’s personality framework. It encompasses behavioral dispositions and self-perceived abilities, such as adaptability, assertiveness, and emotion regulation.

• Bar-on (1997), “Emotional intelligence reflects one’s ability to deal with daily environmental changes and helps predict one’s success in life, including professional and personal pursuit.”

Salovy vs GolemanSalovy’s definition covers four aspects of emotional intelligence (emotional perception, emotional integration, emotional understanding, and emotional management), Whereas Goleman defined EQ as a cluster of traits relating to the emotional side of life. Goleman proposed 5 aspects (Knowing one’s own emotions, Managing one’s own emotions, Motivating oneself, Recognizing the emotions of others, Handling emotions) of EI.

Characteristics of Emotionally Intelligent Persons

• Perceive and be sensitive to your feelings and emotions.
• Perceive and be sensitive to various types of emotions in others by noting their body language, voice and tone, and facial expressions.
• Relate your emotions to your thoughts so that you take them into account while solving problems and making decisions.
• Understand the powerful influence of the nature and intensity of your emotions.
• Control and regulate your emotions and their expressions while dealing with self and others to achieve harmony and peace.

Significance of E.I in Personal & Professional Life

In Professional Life –

• Improved Communication: EI enhances interpersonal skills, leading to clearer and more effective communication. For Eg. IAS Divya Devrajan (Learned Gondi within 3 months for Effective communication )
• Conflict Resolution: Individuals with high EI can manage and resolve conflicts more effectively, fostering a collaborative work environment. For eg. IPS Chetan Singh Rathor persuaded protesters to sing the national anthem. 
• Leadership Skills: EI helps leaders inspire and motivate their teams by understanding their emotions and needs. For eg. IAS N Prabhakar Reddy enrolled his children in a government.
• Adaptability: High EI enables professionals to adapt to changing situations and navigate workplace challenges with resilience. For eg. IAS Tina Dabi’s Navo Barmer Missio, APJ Abdul kalam as DRDO scientist, President and professor
• Better Decision-Making: EI facilitates emotional regulation, leading to more rational and balanced decision-making processes.

In Personal Life –

• Enhanced Relationships: EI improves empathy and understanding, leading to deeper and more meaningful personal relationships
• Stress Management: Individuals with high EI can manage stress better, leading to improved mental health and well-being
• Self-Awareness: EI promotes self-reflection, helping individuals understand their emotions and triggers, which aids in personal growth.
• Conflict Management: It enables individuals to handle conflicts in personal relationships calmly and constructively.
• Empathy and Compassion: EI fosters a sense of empathy, allowing individuals to connect with others’ feelings and experiences, promoting stronger bonds.

Social Intelligence

The term social intelligence (SI) was first used by Dewey and Lull. But, the modern concept of social intelligence is given by Thorndike (1920) by dividing intelligence into 3 types i.e. Social, Abstract, Concrete .

In Thorndike’s classic formulation: “By social intelligence is meant the ability to understand and manage men and women, boys and girls—to act wisely in human relations”  While definitions will vary, SI is a set of abilities that enable a person to build and maintain healthy relationships, whether in dyads, teams or large groups. Most simply, it is the ability to live, love and work with others. 

In terms of behavior, Boyatzis (2009) defined “a social intelligence competency is the ability to recognize, understand and use emotional information about others that leads to or causes effective or superior performance.”

SI is a mix of skills shown through learned behavior. To improve SI, One need to:

• Understand how your behavior affects others.
• Try new behaviors and ways to interact.

Karl Albrecht’s social intelligence (SI) model

Karl Albrecht defined Social Intelligence (SI) as “the ability to get along well with others and to get them to cooperate with you.” He developed the S.P.A.C.E. model, which includes five key dimensions of social intelligence:

1. Situational Awareness: ability to understand the context of a situation and reading cues in social situations.
   1. An RPS officer is aware of the violent part of the crowd 
2. Presence: How you present yourself and the impression you make on others.
   1. Strong eye contact while communicating with someone
3. Authenticity: Being genuine, trustworthy, and transparent in interactions.
   1. Unbiased, true advice by a friend [Irrespective of it might hurt the sentiments]
4. Clarity: Communicating effectively and clearly.
   1. Structured way, Data, Facts, examples
5. Empathy: Understanding and relating to the emotions and perspectives of others.
   1. Offering psychological support to a victim in police station 

Significance : 

• Improve their interpersonal skills in leadership, business, education, and personal relationships.
• Making social intelligence a skill that can be developed and enhanced over time.
• Relevant in both personal and professional settings, aiding in teamwork, negotiation, and emotional well-being.

Relation between Social and Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI) and social intelligence (SI) are closely related because both involve understanding and managing emotions, but they differ in their focus.

• Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to recognize, understand, and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others.
• Social intelligence focuses more on navigating social situations, understanding others’ emotions, and effectively interacting with them.

Imagine you are working in a team. A colleague is upset because they feel left out of decision-making.

• If you have emotional intelligence, you would first recognize your colleague’s frustration and manage your response to ensure you stay calm and supportive.
• If you have social intelligence, you would use this awareness to engage your colleague in a conversation, acknowledge their feelings, and find ways to include them in future decisions, improving team harmony.

In this way, EI helps you understand emotions, while SI helps you use that understanding to build better relationships and navigate social contexts.

The diagram illustrates the relationship between EI and SI. The overlap signifies how both intelligences work together to navigate complex emotions and social situations effectively.

Both are important for navigating relationships. Some issues in SI can come from not fully developing EI, and vice versa.

Cognitive Intelligence

Cognitive intelligence is the mental capacity to reason, process information, and apply knowledge from past experiences. It includes skills such as thinking, learning, memory, and problem-solving, essential for personal and professional success.

Piaget’s Stage Model of Cognitive Development

It outlines how children progress through distinct stages of mental development, each characterized by unique ways of thinking and understanding the world. Here are the four stages in Piaget’s model:

Stage	Age	Goal
Sensorimotor- Touch, sight, sound, taste	0-  2 yr	object permanence[Infants learn about the world through basic actions]
Preoperationalwords, images, gestures	2 to 7 yr	Symbolic thought[Children begin to think symbolically and use words and pictures to represent objects]
Concrete operational(2+2 = 4)	7 to 11yr	Logical thought[Children start to think logically about concrete events]
Formal operational Love, Democracy, Hypothesis etc	11 to 15 yr	Scientific reasoning[Adolescents begin to think abstractly and reason about hypothetical problems.]

Spiritual intelligence

Spiritual intelligence is known as ultimate intelligence. It is concerned with the inner life of mind and spirit and its relationship to being in the world. In addition to self-awareness, it implies awareness of our relationship to the transcendent, to each other, to the earth and all beings. It may be said that Spiritual Quotient is the sum total of ‘Intelligence Quotient’ and ‘Emotional Quotient’

According to Danah Zohar and Marshall (2000), “spiritual intelligence refers to the development of our longing and capacity for meaning, vision and value which facilitates a link between reason and Emotion , between mind and body.”

Nasel (2004) defined spiritual intelligence as “the ability to draw on one’s spiritual abilities and resources to better identify, find meaning in, and resolve existential, spiritual and practical issues”. He developed the Spiritual Intelligence Scale (SIS) as a way to assess forms of spiritual intelligence related to Christianity and individual-based spirituality.

The most widely recognized definitions of Spritual Intelligence is given by Cindy Wigglesworth, who describes SI as:

“The ability to act with wisdom and compassion, while maintaining inner and outer peace, regardless of the circumstances.”

Relation between religions and Spiritual Quotient

Spiritual Intelligence is not necessarily related to any particular religion as such, however it seems to be very much related to ‘Righteousness’ which is the Indian concept of ‘DHARMA’. This is evident by the statement given by Zohar Danah & Marshall;
“We can use SQ to become more spiritually intelligent about religion. A person high in SQ might practice any religion, but without it narrowness, exclusiveness, bigotry or prejudice happens. Equally a person high in SQ could have very spiritual qualities without being religious at all”.

COMPONENTS OF SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE

There are five components identified in spiritual intelligence.

1. Transcendence: Going beyond the egoistic self into an interconnected wholeness (Swami Vivekananda)
2. Consciousness: knowing self and living consciously with clear intention (Buddha’s enlightenment)
3. Meaning: The ability to purify everyday experience (Mahatma Gandhi)
4. Grace: The ability to utilize spiritual resources to solve problems And having an optimistic outlook based on faith or trust.
5. Truth: The capacity to be virtuous. Acceptance and forgive, embrace and love.

Principles of Spiritual Intelligence

According to Zohar, there are 12 different principles underlying spiritual intelligence:

1. Self-Awareness: Knowing what I believe in and value, and what deeply motivates me.
2. Spontaneity: Living in and being responsive to the moment.
3. Being vision and value-led: Acting from principles and deep beliefs, and living accordingly.
4. Holism: Seeing larger patterns, relationships, and connections, having a sense of belonging.
5. Compassion: Having the quality of “feeling-with” and deep empathy.
6. Celebration of diversity: Valuing other people for their differences, not despite them.
7. Field independence: Standing against the crowd and having one’s own convictions.
8. Humility: Having the sense of being a player in a larger drama, of one’s true place in the world.
9. Tendency to ask fundamental “Why?” Questions: Needing to understand things and get to the bottom of them.
10. Ability to reframe: ability to see the bigger picture (long-term thinking vs short-term thinking)
11. Positive use of Adversity: Learning and growing from mistakes, setbacks, and suffering.
12. Sense of vocation: Feeling called upon to serve, to give something back. 

Comparative Understanding of IQ, EQ & SQ

Various scholars see relationship among IQ, EQ and SQ in following manner-

Intelligence	Operations
IQ	Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Planning, Execution
EQ	Teamwork, Leadership, Awareness, Action, Relationship Management, Emotional Well-being, Physical Well-being, Optimism, Skills, Experience
SQ	Evaluation, Synthesis, Judgment, Insight, Creativity, Problem Solving, Intuition, Breakthrough Thinking, Inspiration, Vision, Commitment, Resilience, Self-Belief, Happiness, Flow

Cultural Intelligence

• According to Ang and Van Dyne, “Cultural intelligence has been defined as an individual capacity to effectively function in culturally diverse situations.” 
• Cultural intelligence (CQ) is the ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. 
• It goes beyond cultural sensitivity and awareness, enabling individuals to strategically leverage cultural differences for innovative solutions. 
• For Eg. McDonald’s in India offers special Navratri meals, catering to local dietary preferences during the festival. This showcases cultural intelligence by respecting traditions, ultimately boosting customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.
• Cultural Quotient involves understanding, adapting, and thriving in various cultural settings, making it a natural extension of IQ and EQ. CQ is malleable competence that can be increased through training and coaching.
• In culturally diverse contexts, CQ enhances:
  • Personal Adaptability
  • Judgment and Decision-Making
  • Negotiation Skills
  • Trust, Idea Sharing, and Innovation
  • Leadership Effectiveness
  • Profitability and Cost-Savings
• It can help people to –
  • Relate to others– Being aware of the values, beliefs, and communication styles of different cultures, which helps them relate to others with understanding and empathy.
  • Adapt to external environments; for example, teachers with high CQ can understand students from different backgrounds and adapt their teaching accordingly.
  • Solve conflicts– identify the sources of disagreements and develop strategies to solve problems.
  • Communicate– interpret and understand communication styles, non-verbal cues, and nuances accurately across cultures.
  • Innovate– strategically use cultural differences to come up with more innovative solutions.