"General Intelligence - Understanding and Assessing General Intelligence"

General Intelligence is the ability to think about ideas, analyze situations, and solve problems. It is measured through various types of intelligence tests.

Intelligence was once thought to be one mental functioning process. Currently, through research, psychologists have identified several types of mental abilities that make up intelligence:

• Verbal Intelligence;
• Non-verbal Intelligence;
• Concrete Reasoning ; and
• Abstract Reasoning.

  Most recently, educational psychologists have been developing theories concerning multiple intelligences. These theories even further define specific types of abilities that fall under the umbrella of intelligence. They include concepts such as bodily-kinesthetic, artistic, and visual-spatial intelligence. These theories are most important in that they encourage educators to recognize unique abilities of every student. They also recognize the cultural aspects of cognitive functioning.