Intelligence and wisdom – cognitive psychology

Intelligence is part of mind that has various abilities which are linked. These abilities include; reasoning, planning, solving problems, ability to comprehend ideas, learn and use language. Intelligence comprises of personality, creativity, knowledge, character and wisdom. According to Sternberg, 2007 IQ tests don’t measure intelligence. He developed theory of intelligence that described intelligence as focus on mental abilities like comprehension, vocabulary, problem solving and memory which can be measures with intelligence tests. He categorized intelligence into three; analytical intelligence is the ability to solve analytical problem, complete academic. Creative or synthetic intelligence is the ability to deal with new and extraordinary situations successfully using existing skills and knowledge. Practical intelligence is the ability to get used to daily life by using existing skills and knowledge. This allows one to understand what is supposed to be done in certain setting and then do it (Sternberg, 2007, p. 15).

According to Sternberg, 2001 wisdom is the knowledge, experience, understanding, intuitive understanding and discretion together with ability to use these abilities in finding solution to problems. Wisdom is the purposeful and judicious use of knowledge which is of value to the society. In wisdom this can be passed on through story telling. With wisdom one knows more on what to do in many situations. For example, a student who knows what the teacher tells him or her on elementary school class to add numbers from 1-100 uses wisdom (Sternberg, 2001, p. 607). Intelligence is the ability to solve problems and wisdom judgment to know how to use the solution found through wisdom. Application of knowledge and wisdom helps to factor out some knowledge. People like Kofi Annan use intelligence in bringing peace to countries with clashes. For example, he was sent by United Nations to help Kenya during the conflict after elections whereby he applied his intelligence and brought peace back to Kenya (Sternberg, 2004, p. 57).

List of References

Sternberg, R.J., (2007), Wisdom, intelligence and creativity synthesized, New York: Cambridge University Press

Sternberg, R.N., (2001), “Implicit theories of intelligence, creativity and wisdom,” Journal of personality and social psychology, Vol. 49, No. 5, pp. 607-612

Sternberg, R.N., (2004), International handbook of intelligence, Cambridge University Press