Test your knowledge with 20 MCQs on Intelligence: Theories, Emotional Intelligence, and Group Differences

1. What is intelligence generally defined as in psychology?

A) The ability to recall past events accurately
B) The capacity for learning, problem-solving, and adapting to new situations
C) The number of facts a person knows
D) The ability to perform complex calculations

Answer: B
Explanation: Intelligence is the cognitive ability to learn, solve problems, and adapt to new situations, rather than just memorizing facts.

2. Which of the following best represents the psychometric approach to intelligence?

A) Emphasizing practical problem-solving skills
B) Measuring intelligence using standardized tests and statistical analysis
C) Examining intelligence through emotional and social abilities
D) Defining intelligence based on cultural values

Answer: B
Explanation: The psychometric approach focuses on measuring intelligence through standardized IQ tests and statistical techniques such as factor analysis.

3. Who proposed the theory of multiple intelligences?

A) Charles Spearman
B) Howard Gardner
C) Robert Sternberg
D) John Carroll

Answer: B
Explanation: Howard Gardner introduced the theory of multiple intelligences, proposing that intelligence is not a single ability but consists of multiple distinct types.

4. Which of the following is NOT one of Gardner’s multiple intelligences?

A) Logical-Mathematical Intelligence
B) Musical Intelligence
C) Spatial Intelligence
D) Genetic Intelligence

Answer: D
Explanation: Gardner’s theory includes multiple intelligences such as logical-mathematical, musical, and spatial, but "genetic intelligence" is not one of them.

5. What does Sternberg’s triarchic theory of intelligence include?

A) Verbal, logical, and mathematical intelligence
B) Analytical, creative, and practical intelligence
C) Linguistic, kinesthetic, and spatial intelligence
D) Emotional, logical, and social intelligence

Answer: B
Explanation: Sternberg’s triarchic theory categorizes intelligence into three types: analytical (problem-solving), creative (innovation), and practical (street smarts).

6. Emotional intelligence (EI) involves all the following EXCEPT:

A) Managing emotions
B) Understanding others’ emotions
C) Logical reasoning
D) Self-awareness

Answer: C
Explanation: Emotional intelligence (EI) focuses on recognizing, understanding, and managing emotions in oneself and others, not logical reasoning.

7. Who developed the concept of emotional intelligence (EI)?

A) Daniel Goleman
B) Charles Spearman
C) Robert Sternberg
D) Alfred Binet

Answer: A
Explanation: Daniel Goleman popularized emotional intelligence, emphasizing its role in success, relationships, and leadership.

8. Which term describes the idea that intelligence is made up of a general factor (g-factor) and specific abilities?

A) Multiple intelligences theory
B) Triarchic theory of intelligence
C) Two-factor theory of intelligence
D) Genetic theory of intelligence

Answer: C
Explanation: Spearman’s two-factor theory suggests intelligence consists of a general intelligence (g-factor) and specific abilities (s-factors).

9. How do heredity and environment influence intelligence?

A) Only heredity determines intelligence
B) Only environment shapes intelligence
C) Both heredity and environment interact to influence intelligence
D) Neither heredity nor environment affects intelligence

Answer: C
Explanation: Research shows intelligence results from an interaction between genetic inheritance and environmental influences such as education and upbringing.

10. What is the Flynn effect?

A) A decline in intelligence over time
B) The increasing average IQ scores over generations
C) The idea that intelligence is solely determined by genes
D) A method for measuring intelligence

Answer: B
Explanation: The Flynn effect refers to the steady rise in average IQ scores over time, likely due to better education, nutrition, and environmental factors.

11. Which of the following statements about intelligence and culture is TRUE?

A) Intelligence is completely universal and unaffected by culture
B) Different cultures emphasize different types of intelligence
C) Only Western societies value intelligence
D) Culture has no impact on intelligence testing

Answer: B
Explanation: Different cultures prioritize different aspects of intelligence, such as practical intelligence in some cultures and academic intelligence in others.

12. A person with an IQ score below 70 is generally classified as having:

A) Average intelligence
B) Superior intelligence
C) Intellectual disability
D) Emotional intelligence

Answer: C
Explanation: An IQ below 70 typically indicates an intellectual disability, affecting adaptive functioning and cognitive abilities.

13. What IQ score is typically considered the cutoff for giftedness?

A) 90
B) 100
C) 120
D) 130

Answer: D
Explanation: A person with an IQ score of 130 or above is usually classified as gifted, often demonstrating exceptional intellectual ability.

14. Which term refers to the ability to generate new and useful ideas?

A) Creativity
B) Logical reasoning
C) Emotional intelligence
D) Psychometric intelligence

Answer: A
Explanation: Creativity involves producing novel and valuable ideas, often linked to intelligence but distinct in its nature.

15. What is crystallized intelligence?

A) The ability to learn new skills quickly
B) The capacity to solve novel problems
C) Knowledge and skills gained through experience
D) The ability to think creatively

Answer: C
Explanation: Crystallized intelligence refers to accumulated knowledge and experience, increasing with age.

16. Which of the following is an example of fluid intelligence?

A) Remembering historical facts
B) Solving a new type of puzzle
C) Recalling vocabulary words
D) Using past experience to make a decision

Answer: B
Explanation: Fluid intelligence involves problem-solving and adapting to new situations, rather than relying on stored knowledge.

17. Which test was developed by Alfred Binet to measure intelligence?

A) Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale
B) Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)
C) Emotional Intelligence Test
D) Raven’s Progressive Matrices

Answer: A
Explanation: Alfred Binet created the first intelligence test, later revised as the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale.

18. Which of the following is a nonverbal intelligence test?

A) Stanford-Binet IQ Test
B) Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
C) Raven’s Progressive Matrices
D) SAT

Answer: C
Explanation: Raven’s Progressive Matrices is a nonverbal intelligence test used to measure abstract reasoning and problem-solving.

19. What term describes a significant difference in intelligence between groups due to cultural or environmental factors?

A) Genetic inheritance
B) Stereotype threat
C) Group intelligence gap
D) Environmental bias

Answer: B
Explanation: Stereotype threat refers to the impact of negative stereotypes on performance, which can contribute to group differences in intelligence scores.

20. What does research suggest about the relationship between intelligence and success?

A) High intelligence guarantees success
B) Intelligence has no impact on success
C) Emotional intelligence is often more predictive of success than IQ
D) Only genetic intelligence determines success

Answer: C
Explanation: Research suggests emotional intelligence, including social and self-regulation skills, is often more predictive of real-world success than IQ alone.