What are the 9 types of intelligence? (No, there isn't just one.)

What if we told you your IQ represented only a part of your intelligence? According to a theory by Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner, our schools were unfair to us for putting certain types of intelligence on a pedestal while ignoring the rest. Gardner's theory explains that people do not have a fixed intellectual capacity; but rather, many kinds of intelligence. For example, a person can be musically intelligent while being bad at math. Gardner describes these 9 kinds of intelligence that a person can have. Here's a visual representation of all of them.

1. Visual-Spatial Intelligence

Visual-spatial intelligence refers to people's ability to view or visualise the world in its three dimensions. It involves capabilities like mental imagery, spatial reasoning, image manipulation, artistic skills.

2. Logical-Mathematical Intelligence

Logical-mathematical intelligence refers to someone's ability to solve mathematical problems, spot trends and patterns, and understand relationships. Order and sequencing form a huge part of their thinking process and they can think conceptually and abstractly.

3. Linguistic Intelligence

Linguistic intelligence gauges someone's ability to use words effectively and express what they mean to achieve objectives such as persuasion. Someone with linguistic intelligence will enjoy reading and writing or speaking, and will have an easy grasp on other languages.

4. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence

Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence is the ability to manipulate objects and use a variety of physical skills. This also involves a sense of timing and the perfection of skills through mind-body union.

5. Naturalistic Intelligence

Naturalistic intelligence designates the human ability to differentiate among living beings as well as sensitivity to other features of the natural world, like clouds, rock configurations.

6. Interpersonal Intelligence

Interpersonal intelligence is the ability to understand and interact effectively with others. It involves effective verbal and non-verbal communication, sensitivity to the moods and temperaments of others, and the ability to entertain multiple perspectives.

7. Musical Intelligence

Musical intelligence is the ability to discern pitch, rhythm, timbre and tone. This intelligence enables one to recognise, create, reproduce and reflect on music.

8. Intra-personal Intelligence

Intra-personal intelligence is the capacity to understand oneself and one's thoughts and feelings, and to use such knowledge in planning and directioning one's life. This intelligence makes you self-motivated and very aware of your own feelings.

9. Existential Intelligence

Existential intelligence is the sensitivity and capacity to tackle deep questions about the human existence, such as the meaning of life, why we die, and how did we get here.