Intelligence is one of the most valued traits in our society, along with beauty or health. This construct is often seen as a trait that one has or does not have, so it is common to talk about whether someone is intelligent or not. The reality is that intelligence is full of nuances .

Over the decades there has been a great debate about what kinds of intelligence exist. What about the boy who is not able to pass a math test but is instead able to write musical pieces of infinite beauty? What about the boy who is not good at languages but is a programming genius? Much of this debate has focused on whether there is a unitary intelligence or different types of intelligence.

In today’s article, we will review the different types of intelligence that exist based on the second option of this debate .

Different intelligence tests for different types of intelligence

The truth is that intelligence is an abstract construct, which is why it has provoked great discussions among different experts.

Psychologists have long been interested in this concept and today there are different types of intelligence tests. Some of them measure what is known as the “G Factor” or unitary intelligence and others measure the different types of intelligence that we will talk about in this article. For example, logical-mathematical intelligence or linguistic intelligence .

  • You can learn more about intelligence tests in our article: “Types of intelligence tests”

The 12 types of intelligence

And of course, since this construct has been studied, several theories have tried to explain what intelligence is. From Raymond Cattell’s crystallised and fluid intelligence, Spearman’s bifactorial theory or Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences, there are many contributions that different researchers and professionals in psychology have left us to help us understand how human intelligence works.

This last theory, that of multiple intelligences, has been very influential in naming some of the most recognized intelligences and has contributed notably to breaking the paradigm of unitary intelligence.

But, what types of intelligence exist? Below is a list of the different types of intelligence.

1. Linguistic intelligence

As the name suggests, is the ability to master language . But this type of intelligence does not only include oral language, but also writing or gestures, so it has a lot to do with the communicative process. People with high linguistic intelligence have a special sensitivity to the meaning of words, word order, sounds, rhythms, metrics, etc. (for example, writers or poets).

  • You can learn more about this type of intelligence by reading this post: “Linguistic intelligence: what is it and how can it be improved?

2. Logical-mathematical intelligence

Is the ability to conceptualize logical relationships between actions or symbols (for example, a mathematician or scientist) . In other words, it is the ability to reason in a deductive and logical way and the ability to solve mathematical problems.

The psychologist Jean Piaget, when he did his studies, thought he was working on a wide range of intelligences, but in reality he was studying logical-mathematical intelligence. The speed with which mathematical problems are solved is the most common indicator of how much logical-mathematical intelligence an individual possesses.

3. Spatial Intelligence

Spatial intelligence is defined as the human ability to observe the world and objects from different perspectives and, in addition, is the ability to manipulate or create mental images in order to solve problems. This type of intelligence is composed of different skills: dynamic imagination, image manipulation, artistic graphic skills or spatial reasoning, among others. People with high spatial intelligence are very good at making puzzles or drawing. Sculptors, architects, painters or pilots are examples of individuals with high spatial ability.

  • More about this intelligence: “Spatial Intelligence: What is it and how can it be improved?”

4. Musical intelligence

While some people are very good at making sculptures or painting, others have an enormous capacity for making musical pieces , because they recognize and compose musical tones and rhythms with great talent. These musically advanced people have a high level of musical intelligence, which allows them to play instruments and read or compose musical pieces with ease.

5. Body and kinesthetic intelligence

And the dancers, what kind of intelligence do they possess? According to the theory of multiple intelligences, they possess what is known as bodily or kinesthetic intelligence, which is the ability to use one’s body, that is, the coordination of body movements .

This type and intelligence makes visible a great connection between mind (and emotions) and movement, and, besides dancers, it is usually possessed by actors or sportsmen. Have you ever seen Leo Messi play? He probably can’t play a piece by Beethoven or make a caricature of Luis Suárez, but, with the ball at his feet, he is capable of doing things that are not within anyone else’s reach.

6. Intrapersonal intelligence

There are individuals who possess a remarkable ability to understand themselves , their thoughts and emotions and regulate their own behaviour, because they are able to access their feelings and emotions and reflect on them. Although intrapersonal intelligence comprises self-knowledge and self-appreciation, it also includes the understanding of the human condition. Psychologists, philosophers or writers generally have a high capacity for this type of intelligence. In addition, this type of individual usually enjoys greater emotional and psychological well-being.

  • Learn more: “Intrapersonal Intelligence: What is it and how can it be improved?”

7. Interpersonal Intelligence

You may have noticed that there are certain individuals who have a unique ability to get along with or relate to other people . These are individuals who use their interpersonal intelligence when interacting with others in an efficient way, as they are able to understand, empathise and communicate appropriately.

Interpersonal intelligence is the ability to discern the emotions and intentions of others and to interpret the words and gestures, or the objectives and goals of other people. Politicians, teachers or actors are advantaged in this type of intelligence.

  • Recommended Reading: “Interpersonal Intelligence: Definition and Tips for Improvement”

8. Emotional Intelligence

One of the recent great paradigms of intelligence is emotional intelligence. Although the concept of emotional intelligence was first employed by the American psychologists Peter Salovey and John Mayer in 1990, it was Goleman who, thanks to his best-selling book Emotional Intelligence (1995), made this construct famous.

Emotional intelligence comprises both intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligence , and is composed of five elements: emotional self-awareness, emotional self-control, self-motivation, empathy and social skills. There is a lot of research that states that emotional intelligence has many benefits: it minimises the effects of stress and prevents it, improves emotional well-being, improves interpersonal relationships, improves work performance…

9. Naturalistic intelligence

Naturalistic intelligence refers to the sensitivity that some people show towards the natural world , as it is the ability to distinguish, order, classify, understand and use elements of the environment, objects, animals or plants. In the past, this type of intelligence was extremely important for survival. Biologists, farmers, botanists or hunters have mastered this type of intelligence.

10. Existential intelligence

While some individuals live the day without dedicating much time to the reason for things, people with high existential intelligence tend to meditate on their existence . This type of thinking can include the meaning of life and death. Existential intelligence is known as the ninth multiple intelligence in Howard Gardner’s theory, and he defines it as: “the capacity to situate oneself with respect to the cosmos and with respect to the existential traits of the human condition, such as the meaning of life and death, the final destiny of the physical and psychological world in profound experiences such as love for another person.

The search for meaning, self-knowledge, possessing one’s own scale of moral values, aesthetic enjoyment or a sense of mystery are some of the manifestations of this type of intelligence, which can be cultivated through the practice of meditation, contemplation or the exercise of philosophy and dialogue.

While some authors speak of this type of intelligence as spiritual intelligence, others, on the other hand, affirm that they are two distinct types of intelligence, since existential intelligence goes far beyond spiritually positive and healthy behavior , beyond being a good person.

11. Creative Intelligence

There are people who are made to work in a job that requires mechanical and monotonous work and who adapt without problems to work environments of this type. But, on the other hand, there are people whose minds seem to fly, who are always one step ahead of others and who are constantly innovating . These people have a high creative intelligence.

But what characterizes people with high creative intelligence? Fluency, that is, the ability to produce many ideas; flexibility, to see and address situations in different ways; and originality, to manufacture unusual or novel responses.

  • What are creative people like? Find out in this article: “The 7 Personality Traits of Creative People”

12. Collaborative Intelligence

Recently, a new concept of intelligence has appeared in the organizational environment: collaborative intelligence. It could be defined as the capacity to choose the best option to reach a certain goal working together , and it is based on the idea of teamwork, so necessary for today’s companies.

In fact, teamwork is one of the skills that recruiters value most, and that is why, faced with this new need when it comes to finding work, many masters or specialized courses in this type of intelligence are appearing.

  • If you want to go deeper into this subject, you can find all the information you need in our post: “Collaborative Intelligence: what exactly is it?”