Robert J.

Sternbergs
Triarchic Theory of
INTELLIGENCE
Robert J. Sternbergs Triarchic Theory

Based on the premise that intelligences are developing

abilities
Successful Intelligence is the ability to adapt flexibly
and effectively to the environment
Need creative and practical abilities to succeed

Memory, attention, and language are prerequisites (for

development of these three intelligences)
Needs a combination of all three facets of intelligence
 Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

Adapt, select,
and shape to
Ability to needs

Encode,
tailor ones
behavior to
combine,
demands of Exposure
compare context and
information
practice

Information- IQ Experience
processing with a given
skills task/situation
Sternbergs Successful intelligence

Three abilities to meet ones own goals

Analytical: Analytical abilities are the skills tested in
traditional IQ tests and may be assumed to basically
reflect general intelligence.

Creative: the ability to address new ways of addressing

issues and problems; artistic creativity is not correlated
with general intelligence.

Practical: Practical abilities often involve tacit knowledge--

practical knowledge needed to do a job; e.g., a
mechanic's knowledge of socket wrenches.
Analytical Intelligence

Analytical Intelligence- ones ability to examine,

understand, and evaluate data and new
information
Managing our minds- problem solving, decision making
Performance- memory, relationships, applications
Knowledge acquisition- separate relevant from irrelevant (gifted
do this at a faster rate)
IQ Tests Measure
Analytical Intelligence

Linear Schoolhouse Smart Sequential

Judging behavior of others
Solving logical problems
Thinking about Things
Appealing to logic
Explaining difficult problems to others
Making inferences and deriving conclusions
Sorting and classifying
Creative Intelligence

Creative Intelligence- the ability to go beyond

what is given to generate novel and interesting
ideas, solutions, and points of view
Novelty/automatic/intuitive
Synthetic giftedness is difficult to test
Creative Intelligence

Innovator Outside the Box What If

Coming up with ideas
Playing make-believe and pretend games
Noticing things people usually tend to ignore
Designing new things
Using my imagination
Thinking of alternative solutions
Thinking in pictures and images
Practical Intelligence

Practical Intelligence- ability that individuals use to

find the best fit between themselves and the
demands of the environment
Adapting- change self to adjust to environment
Shaping- change environment to suit needs
Selection- completely new alternative
Practical Intelligence

Streetsmart - Contextual Focus on Use

Learning through hands on activities
Understanding and respecting others
Resolving conflicts
Taking things apart and fixing them
Making and maintaining friends
Putting into practice things I learned