How does L.L. Thurstone’s work challenge traditional views on intelligence and cognitive abilities?
A) By emphasizing the importance of environmental influences
B) By promoting a fixed view of intelligence as a genetic trait
C) By advocating for a unidimensional model of cognitive skills
D) By focusing exclusively on innate cognitive capacities
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is C) By advocating for a unidimensional model of cognitive skills.
L.L. Thurstone’s work significantly challenged the traditional views on intelligence, especially those proposed by earlier theorists like Charles Spearman. While Spearman’s model suggested that intelligence could be boiled down to a single general factor (g), Thurstone took a different approach by emphasizing that intelligence is made up of several independent factors, rather than one overarching ability. His contributions were instrumental in the development of multiple-factor theories of intelligence.
Thurstone identified seven primary mental abilities: verbal comprehension, numerical ability, spatial relations, perceptual speed, word fluency, associative memory, and reasoning. According to Thurstone, each of these abilities could function independently, and people could show strengths or weaknesses in specific areas without necessarily being proficient in others. This stood in stark contrast to the unidimensional view of intelligence that had dominated earlier theories, particularly Spearman’s general intelligence factor (g).
Thurstone’s multi-factor theory was revolutionary in that it recognized the complexity and diversity of cognitive abilities, rather than simplifying intelligence into a single general factor. This shift allowed for a more nuanced understanding of individual differences in cognitive functioning. His approach also laid the groundwork for later theories, such as Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, which further expanded on the idea that people possess a variety of distinct intellectual capacities.
In essence, Thurstone’s work moved away from a singular, genetic, or environmental determinant of intelligence, and instead proposed that intelligence is multi-faceted and includes various independent abilities that contribute to overall cognitive performance. This was a significant departure from the traditional notion of intelligence being based on one dominant factor.