By Remedial Therapist, Karen van Voorst
IDENTIFYING YOUR STRENGTHS
In order to support future career choices, we will use and look closely at the Theory of 8 Multiple Intelligences as viewed by Howard Gardner (outlined in 1983 in his book, “Frames of Mind”)
Intelligence is often defined as our innate intellectual potential; (the ability which we are born with); which is measurable, difficult to change and not taking environmental factors into consideration. In recent years; however, more holistic and modern views around the topic of intelligence, have emerged which are no longer only linked to quantitative measures. Thank goodness!! The theory of multiple intelligences as proposed by a Harvard psychologist and lecturer, Howard Gardner, is one such conception.
Gardner argued that earlier views of human intelligence were merely expressed as an IQ score (therefore it only had a numerical component and it did not provide a full and accurate description of people’s abilities). His theory suggests that people may have eight distinct types of “intelligences” based on skills and abilities that are valued in different cultures.
Gardner’s has now raised the importance of rather considering all of the different mental strengths that individuals may possess as opposed to simply focusing on a single measure of human cognitive ability or “limited traditional psychometric views of intelligence”.
He furthermore distinguishes between his so called multiple intelligences and the idea of learning styles by defining intelligences as a mental computational power in a certain area (such as verbal ability or spatial intelligence). In contrary, learning styles are defined by him as the manner in which individuals approach different educational materials. All of this has been positively accepted by educators, as this has been helpful in structuring and planning more meaningful lessons, while also considering the strengths of their learners.
In order to capture the full range of abilities and talents that people possess, Gardner theorises that people do not only have an intellectual capacity, but that they have many kinds of intelligences, including musical, interpersonal, spatial-visual, and linguistic intelligences.
While a person might be particularly strong in a specific area, such as musical intelligence, he or she most likely possesses a range of abilities. For example, an individual might be strong in verbal, musical, and naturalistic intelligence.
Let’s take a closer look at the characteristics of each of the different types of intelligences as proposed by Gardner (in no particular order) as well as possible career options to choose from:
Visual-Spatial Intelligence
Strengths: Visual and spatial judgement
People who are strong in visual-spatial intelligence are good at visualising things. These individuals are often good with giving or explaining directions as well as map work, understanding charts, videos, and pictures.
Characteristics
Characteristics of individuals with visual-spatial intelligence include:
- Enjoys reading and writing
- Good at putting puzzles together
- Good at interpreting pictures, graphs, and charts
- Enjoys drawing, painting, and the visual arts
- Recognises patterns easily
Potential Career Choices
If you’re strong in visual-spatial intelligence, good career choices for you are:
- Architect
- Artist
- Engineer
- Gamer
Linguistic-Verbal Intelligence
Strengths: Words, language, and writing
People who are strong in linguistic-verbal intelligence are able to use words well, both when writing and speaking. These individuals are typically very good at writing stories, memorising information, and reading.
Characteristics
Characteristics of individuals with linguistic-verbal intelligence include:
- Good at remembering written and spoken information
- Enjoys reading and writing
- Good at debating or giving persuasive speeches
- Able to explain things well
- Often uses humour when telling stories
Potential Career Choices
If you’re strong in linguistic-verbal intelligence, good career choices for you are:
- Writer/journalist
- Lawyer
- Teacher
Logical-Mathematical Intelligence
Strengths: Analysing problems and mathematical operations
People who are strong in logical-mathematical intelligence are good at reasoning, recognizing patterns, and logically analysing problems. These individuals tend to think conceptually about numbers, relationships, and patterns.
Characteristics
Characteristics of individuals with logical-mathematical intelligence include:
- Excellent problem-solving skills
- Enjoys thinking about abstract ideas
- Likes conducting scientific experiments
- Good at solving complex computations
Potential Career Choices
If you’re strong in logical-mathematical intelligence, good career choices for you are:
- Scientist
- Mathematician
- Computer programmer
- Engineer
- Accountant
- Computer programmer
Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
Strengths: Physical movement, motor control
Those who have high bodily-kinesthetic intelligence are said to be good at body movement, performing actions, and physical control. People who are strong in this area tend to have excellent hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
Characteristics
Characteristics of individuals with bodily-kinesthetic intelligence include:
- Good at dancing and sports
- Enjoys creating things with his or her hands
- Excellent physical coordination
- Tends to remember by doing, rather than hearing or seeing
Potential Career Choices
If you’re strong in bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, good career choices for you are:
- Dancer
- Builder
- Sculptor
- Actor
- Phys Ed teacher
- Personal trainer
- National / International sport star
- Physiotherapist
- Medical doctor/ Specialist
Musical Intelligence
Strengths: Rhythm and music
People who have strong musical intelligence are good at thinking in patterns, rhythms, and sounds. They have a strong appreciation for music and are often good at musical composition and performance.
Characteristics
Characteristics of individuals with musical intelligence include:
- Enjoys singing and playing musical instruments
- Recognises musical patterns and tones easily
- Good at remembering songs and melodies
- Rich understanding of musical structure, rhythm, and notes
Potential Career Choices
If you’re strong in musical intelligence, good career choices for you are:
- Musician
- Composer
- Singer and/or dancer
- Music teacher
- Conductor
Interpersonal Intelligence
Strengths: Understanding and relating to other people
Those who have strong interpersonal intelligence are good at understanding and interacting with other people. These individuals are skilled at assessing the emotions, motivations, desires, and intentions of those around them.5
Characteristics
Characteristics of individuals with interpersonal intelligence include:
- Good at communicating verbally
- Skilled at nonverbal communication
- Sees situations from different perspectives
- Creates positive relationships with others
- Good at resolving conflict in groups
Potential Career Choices
If you’re strong in interpersonal intelligence, good career choices for you are:
- Psychologist
- Philosopher
- Counsellor
- Salesperson
- Politician
Intrapersonal Intelligence
Strengths: Introspection and self-reflection
Individuals who are strong in intrapersonal intelligence are good at being aware of their own emotional states, feelings, and motivations. They tend to enjoy self-reflection and analysis, including daydreaming, exploring relationships with others, and assessing their personal strengths.
Characteristics
Characteristics of individuals with intrapersonal intelligence include:
- Good at analysing his or her strengths and weaknesses
- Enjoys analysing theories and ideas
- Excellent self-awareness
- Clearly understands the basis for his or her own motivations and feelings
Potential Career Choices
If you’re strong in intrapersonal intelligence, good career choices for you are:
- Philosopher
- Writer
- Theorist
- Scientist
Naturalistic Intelligence
Strengths: Finding patterns and relationships to nature
Naturalistic is the most recent addition to Gardner’s theory and has been met with more resistance than his original seven intelligences. According to Gardner, individuals who are high in this type of intelligence are more in tune with nature and are often interested in nurturing, exploring the environment, and learning about other species. These individuals are said to be highly aware of even subtle changes to their environments.
Characteristics
Characteristics of individuals with naturalistic intelligence include:
- Interested in subjects such as botany, biology, and zoology
- Good at categorizing and cataloging information easily
- May enjoy camping, gardening, hiking, and exploring the outdoors
- Doesn’t enjoy learning unfamiliar topics that have no connection to nature
Potential Career Choices
If you’re strong in naturalistic intelligence, good career choices for you are:
- Biologist
- Nature Conservationist
- Gardener
- Farmer
- Veterinarian