Understanding Intelligence

by Ken Richardson

This book explores the assumptions and preconceptions underlying common statements and theories of intelligence and examines how these arise out of different social contexts in which different ideas about intelligence wax and wane. It contrasts popular and informal conceptions of intelligence with the demands of rigorous scientific theory and tackles intelligence as an area of psychological theory, research and practical application. The text considers the historical origins of the term intelligence , IQ testing, information processing, developmental and social cognition models of intelligence and the nature versus nurture debate. This critical review of intelligence aims to help students develop a detached stance on the subject and so escape reliance on the kind of cliches that engender constant controversy.

192 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Ragdoll Metaphysics · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good read only giving it 3 stars because the updated version of this book that I read is largely a redux of his 2017 book (which is good!). Also nice to see that his work, first published as a paper in 2016, published on here and his 2017 work having to do with the Hunter and Schmidt IQ-Job performance meta analysis has been vindicated as they have recently walked back some of their claims and cited his criticisms (though I think without actually citing him) about for eg range restriction.

[Joel Baptista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introductory book to get familiar with the diferent ways to analise the concept of intelligence