Multiple Intelligences Theory.

CHARACTERISTICS

You are happiest and most successful when you learn, develop, and work in ways that make best use of your natural intelligences (our strengths and skills).

The following descriptions can be helpful to identify basic personal characteristics for each of the seven intelligences. 

Remember, we are all intelligent to varying degrees in all seven ways. The important thing is to identify one’s strengths to modify and increase the less developed intelligences in ourselves.

1) VERBAL/LINGUISTIC INTELLIGENCE

People with high verbal/linguistic intelligence love words. They prefer to process information through words and language. Additional characteristics include the following:

·         Sensitive to the meaning, order, and sound of words

·         Uses varied language

·         Good speakers

·         Likes to explain and convince through words

·         Enjoys and excels at word games

·         Enjoys listening to, telling, and reading stories

·         Enjoys rhymes and poetry

·         Has good memory for names and dates

2) LOGICAL/MATHEMATICAL INTELLIGENCE

People with high logical/mathematical intelligence create order out of chaos by analyzing, grouping, and categorizing. They recognize relationships, connections, and patterns more easily than people with less logical intelligence. Additional characteristics include the following:

• ·         Ability to handle long chains of reasoning
• ·         Likes reasons for doing things
• ·         Possesses good inductive and deductive reasoning
• ·         Quick to learn equivalencies
• ·         Asks "why" and "how" questions
• ·         Solves problems rapidly
• ·         Likes to predict, analyze, and theorize
• ·         Enjoys dealing with abstraction
• ·         Strong at math and problem solving skills
• ·         Enjoys board games and games with rules

3) MUSICAL INTELLIGENCE

People with high musical intelligence learn best through sound, rhythm, and music. Additional characteristics include the following:

• ·         Ability to perceive pitch, tone, and rhythmic pattern
• ·         Well developed auditory sense
• ·         Ability to create, organize rhythmically, and compose music
• ·         Picks up and creates melodies/rhythm easily
• ·         Remembers songs easily
• ·         Ability to sing or play instruments
• ·         Sensitive and drawn to sounds
• ·         Constantly humming, tapping, and singing

4) VISUAL/SPATIAL INTELLIGENCE

People with high visual intelligence process information best using pictures, visuals, and imagery. Additional characteristics include the following:

• ·         Active imagination
• ·         Ability to find their way mentally and physically around environment
• ·         Ability to see the physical world accurately and translate it into new forms
• ·         Ability to see things in relationship to others
• ·         Ability to use "mind maps"
• ·         Uses imagery and guided visualizations
• ·         Likes visual support-video, pictures, photos, charts, posters
• ·         Organizes space, objects, and areas
• ·         Enjoys designing and decorating

5) BODY/KINESTHETIC INTELLIGENCE

People with high kinesthetic intelligence process information through their bodies-through muscle, sensation, and movement. Additional characteristics include the following:

• ·         Ability to use the body and handle objects 
• ·         Ability to express emotions through bodily movement
• ·         Enjoys physical movement and dance
• ·         Constant movement-likes to get up and move around
• ·         Commitment to comfort
• ·         Uses body to accomplish a task
• ·         Experiences a strong mind/body connection
• ·         Expands awareness through the body
• ·         Experiences a total physical response
• ·         Often good at creative drama

6) INTERPERSONAL INTELLIGENCE

People with high interpersonal intelligence process information through being with others. They are "people" people. Additional characteristics include the following:

• ·         Ability to notice moods, temperaments, and feelings
• ·         Easily makes friends and enjoys the company of others
• ·         Ability to get into the perspective of another
• ·         Responds to verbal and nonverbal communications-facial cues and body movements
• ·         Recognizes and empathizes with others' feelings
• ·         Ability to negotiate and handle conflict resolution
• ·         Works cooperatively in a group
• ·         Works well with a diverse group of people
• ·         Good communication skills
• ·         Loves to talk and influence

7) INTRAPERSONAL INTELLIGENCE

People with high intrapersonal intelligence have a strong sense of themselves, their wants, and needs. Additional characteristics include the following:

• ·         Well developed sense of self
• ·         Awareness and expression of different feelings
• ·         Ability to think about thinking
• ·         Asks big questions—"Why are we here?" and "What happens when we die?"
• ·         Often is a daydreamer
• ·         Often writes introspectively including prose, poetry, or journal writing
• ·         Excellent self planners and good at goal setting
• ·         Enjoys solitude and likes to think alone
• ·         Good understanding of strengths and weaknesses