MI (Multiple Intelligences) Theory Summary Chart

Intelligences Core Components Symbol Systems

Neurological Systems
(Primary Areas)
Development Factors
Ways that Cultures
Value
Linguistic
Sensitivity to the sounds,
structure, meanings, and
functions of words and
language
Phonetic languages (e.g.,
English)
Left temporal and frontal
lobes (e.g., Brocas
!ernic"es areas)
#E$plodes% in early childhood&
remains robust until old age
'ral histories storytelling,
literature
Logical-Mathematical
Sensitivity to, and capacity to
discern, logical or numerical
patterns( ability to handle long
chains of reasoning
)omputer languages (e.g.,
Basic)
Left frontal and right parietal
lobes
Pea"s in adolescence and
early adulthood& higher math
insights decline after age *+
Scientific discoveries,
mathematical theories,
counting and classification
system
Spatial
)apacity to perceive the
visual,spatial world accurately
and to perform
transformations on ones
initial perceptions
-deographic languages (e.g.,
)hinese)
Posterior regions of right
hemisphere
.opological thin"ing in early
childhood gives way to
Euclidean paradigm around
age /,0+& artistic eye stays
robust into old age
1rtistic wor"s, navigational
systems, architectural
designs, inventions
Bodily-Kinesthetic
1bility to control ones body
movements and to handle
ob2ects s"illfully
Sign languages, Braille
)erebellum, basal ganglia,
motor corte$
3aries depending upon
component (strength,
fle$ibility) or domain
(gymnastics baseball, mime)
)rafts, athletic performances,
dramatic wor"s, dance forms,
sculpture
Musical
1bility to produce and
appreciate rhythm, pitch, and
timbre& appreciation of the
forms of musical
e$pressiveness
4usical notational systems,
4orse )ode
5ight temporal lobe
Earliest intelligence to
develop( prodigies often go
through developmental crisis
4usical compositions,
performances, recordings
Interpersonal
)apacity to discern and
respond appropriately to the
moods, temperaments,
motivations, and desires of
other people
Social cues (e.g., gestures
and facial e$pressions)
6rontal lobes, temporal lobe
(especially right hemisphere),
limbic system
1ttachment7bonding during
first 8 years critical
Political documents, social
institutions
Intrapersonal
1ccess to ones own #feeling%
life and the ability to
discriminate among ones
emotions& "nowledge of ones
own strengths and
wea"nesses
Symbols of the self (e.g., in
dreams and artwor")
6rontal lobes, parietal lobes,
limbic system
6ormation of boundary
between #self% and #other%
during first 8 years critical
5eligious systems,
psychological theories, rites of
passage
Naturalist
E$pertise in distinguishing
among members of a species&
recogni9ing the e$istence of
other neighboring species&
and charting out the relations,
formally or informally, among
several species
Species classification systems
(e.g., Linnaeus), habitat maps
1reas of left parietal lobe
important for discriminating
#living% from #nonliving% things
Shows up dramatically in
some young children&
schooling or e$perience
increases formal or informal
e$pertise
6ol" ta$onomies, herbal lore,
hunting rituals, animal spirit
mythologies
A Chapman and V Chislett MSc 2005, based on Gardners Multiple Intelligences model !rom """businessballcom #ot to be soled or published $he authors accept no
liabilit%