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Sternberg Theory of Intelligence: Triarchic Model, Advantages, Weaknesses, Criticism & More

Last Updated on Feb 06, 2024
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The Sternberg Theory of Intelligence sees intelligence in a more significant way. It says intelligence is the ability to do well in life based on your thoughts and where you live. Making the most of your talents while fixing or covering for your weaknesses is important for success. A mix of thinking, creative, and practical skills is needed to change, build, and choose your world. This is done through a balance of thinking, creative, and practical skills. 

Sternberg's theory categorizes intelligence into three types: practical, creative, and analytical. Practical intelligence, akin to "street smarts," involves finding effective solutions in daily life through the application of knowledge derived from personal experiences.

This articleabout Sternberg theory of intelligence is very important for the UPSC IAS exam. Take your UPSC preparation to new heights by joining UPSC coaching and achieve success.

What is Sternberg’s Theory of Intelligence?

The Triarchic Theory of Intelligence, also known as the Three Forms of Intelligence, was developed by psychologist Robert Sternberg.He introduced Robert Sternberg theory of intelligence. It diverges from the psychometric approach, adopting a more cognitive perspective categorized as cognitive-contextual theories. The three meta-components in this theory are referred to as triarchic components.

According to Sternberg Theory of Intelligence, human intelligence is defined as "mental activity directed toward purposive adaptation to, selection and shaping of, real-world environments relevant to one's life." In essence, intelligence is measured by an individual's ability to navigate environmental changes throughout their lifespan. Sternberg's theory comprises three parts: componential, experiential, and practical intelligence. This theory has evolved and progressed further in the book "Experiential Intelligence" by Soren Kaplan.

Features of Sternberg Theory of Intelligence

Robert Sternberg thought of the triarchic idea of intelligence. Sometimes called the three factor theory of intelligence. It is also known as Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence. This theory moves away from testing intelligence to knowing how the mind works. It groups intelligence as ideas about the mind and context. The three main parts are called triarchic parts.

  • Sternberg Theory of Intelligence introduced the Triarchic Theory of Intelligence, offering a broader perspective.
  • The theory identifies three main components: analytic, creative, and practical intelligence.
  • Analytic intelligence involves logic and analysis, creative intelligence centers on imagination, and practical intelligence is about adaptation in everyday situations.
  • Success requires a balance of all three intelligences working together.
  • Intelligence, according to the theory, goes beyond test scores and involves using strengths to overcome weaknesses.
  • It emphasizes a mix of thinking, imagination, and practical skills for changing one's world.
  • The theory measures intelligence through tests, real-life tasks, and observations, focusing on reaching personal goals.
  • Intelligence, as per the theory, involves adapting to, shaping, and selecting environments using different types of intelligence.
  • Cultural and environmental factors play a crucial role, influencing the development of the triarchic parts.

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Three Types of Intelligence in Sternberg Theory of Intelligence

Sternberg Theory of Intelligence sees three main types of intelligence: thinking intelligence (analytical), real-life intelligence (practical), and imagination intelligence (creative). All three types are needed for success in life, according to Sternberg.

  • Thinking Intelligence: This type of intelligence is like the intelligence tested on IQ tests. It is used to solve problems using logic. Sternberg calls this analytical intelligence.
  • Real-Life Intelligence: According to Sternberg, real-life intelligence is the ability to do well in the real world. People who have real-life intelligence are good at living successfully in their surroundings. Sternberg calls this practical intelligence.
  • Imagination Intelligence: This intelligence uses your knowledge to develop solutions and deal with new situations. Sternberg calls this creative intelligence. It uses your imagination.

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Advantages of Sternberg Theory of Intelligence

Sternberg Theory of Intelligence sees intelligence more broadly. The theory sees that intelligence has three main parts. These are thinking intelligence, real-life intelligence and imagination intelligence. This view is broader and more complete.

  • It recognizes cognitive differences. The theory sees that people use the three types of intelligence in different amounts. This shows how people's minds are different.
  • It considers real-life success. The theory sees intelligence as the ability to do well based on what you think and where you live. It focuses on reaching your own goals, not just tests.
  • It promotes measuring in new ways. The theory measures intelligence with tests, real-life tasks and observations. Not just paper and pencil tests.
  • It explains the development of intelligence. The theory sees that the three types of intelligence develop differently in different environments. This explains how intelligence grows over time.
  • Sternberg Theory of Intelligence considers non-cognitive factors. The theory sees culture and environment as important. What is valued as intelligence depends on culture and environment.
  • It recognizes practical intelligence. The theory sees practical intelligence as important for success in everyday life. It focuses on adapting to and shaping your world.
  • It values creative intelligence. The theory sees imagination intelligence as solving new problems and dealing with new situations. It values creativity.
  • In summary, Sternberg theory of intelligence has many good points. Seeing intelligence as made up of thinking, real life, and imagination parts provides a broader view of intelligence. It recognizes cognitive differences, values real-life success, considers development and environment, values practical and creative aspects, and uses new ways to measure intelligence. The theory remains valuable today.

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Weaknesses of Sternberg Theory of Intelligence

One problem is that the three types of intelligence may not be completely different. Sternberg found that the three types correlated with each other. This shows they are related, not fully independent.

  • Another issue is that the theory does not fully explain the relationships between the types of intelligence. Though Sternberg claimed they are distinct, he did not explain how they interact and influence each other.
  • A third disadvantage is that only three types of intelligence were identified. Some argue more types exist and need to be measured to fully represent intelligence.
  • The theory also does not explain why some types are more important than others for success. If all types equally contribute, they should correlate more strongly with success. But they do not.
  • Another weakness is that the theory relies too much on subjective judgments. Some argue the types of intelligence are based on Sternberg's opinions, not objective evidence. The types may not truly represent aspects of intelligence.
  • The last drawback is that the theory does not provide a unified intelligence picture. It focuses more on separate types of intelligence without showing how they integrate into a coherent whole.
  • In summary, though Sternberg Theory of Intelligence provides a broader view of intelligence as consisting of different types, it also has limitations. The types may not be fully independent. The theory does not fully explain how the types relate. Only three types were identified. The relative importance of types is not explained. The types may be based on subjective judgments. And the theory lacks a unified view of intelligence.

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Sternberg’s Sub Theories

The Sternberg Theory of Intelligence introduced some sub theories as listed below.

  • Contextual Subtheory:
    • Intelligence is tied to one's environment.
    • It involves adapting, selecting, or shaping the environment based on needs.
  • Experiential Subtheory:
    • Intelligence operates on a continuum from novel to automation.
    • Demonstrates best at the extremes—novel tasks or automated situations.
  • Componential Subtheory:
    • Outlines mechanisms contributing to intelligence.
    • Three mental processes/components: Metacomponents for monitoring and decision-making, performance components for action, and knowledge-acquisition components for learning new information.

Criticism of Sternberg’s Theory of Intelligence
  • Gottfredson's Critique:
    • Psychologist Linda Gottfredson criticizes the unempirical nature of the triarchic theory.
    • She argues that traditional intelligence tests correlate moderately with income and occupational prestige and predict real-world outcomes, challenging the theory's assertion.
  • Practical Intelligence Criticism:
    • Gottfredson contends that what Sternberg calls practical intelligence is specific skills for coping in certain environments, not a broad aspect of cognition.
  • Separability of Creativity:
    • Some aspects of creativity, like divergent thinking, are distinct from analytical intelligence.
    • Executive functioning processes, like task-switching and interference management, play a crucial role in divergent thinking.
  • Limited IQ-Creativity Correlation:
    • A recent meta-analysis finds small correlations between IQ and creativity.
    • This challenges the strong association between intelligence and creativity suggested by Sternberg's theory.

Conclusion

While valuable, the Sternberg Theory of Intelligence provides an incomplete and somewhat simplistic view of intelligence as separate types. More research is needed to address its limitations and incorporate its insights into a more comprehensive intelligence theory.

Also Read About Methods of Psychology!

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Sternberg Theory of Intelligence FAQs

Sternberg said intelligence has three main parts: thinking, real-life, and imagination intelligence.

The three types are: analytic intelligence which is thinking smart; practical intelligence, which is using common sense; and creative intelligence, which is making new things.

The good points are that it sees intelligence more broadly, knows how people's minds differ, and likes measuring intelligence in new ways.

The weak points are that the three types of intelligence may not be completely different, the theory does not show how the types work together well, and only three types were considered.

The theory is important as it changed how researchers saw intelligence from one type to three types. It remains important today.
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