Howard Gardner (United States, 1943) is an American psychologist and educator who has devoted much of his life to research. Gardner is popularly known for his theory of multiple intelligences .

As a theorist, he thought that the vision of intelligence that existed until then (at the time he proposed his theory) did not explain human intelligence in its totality, and the measure of the Intellectual Quotient (IQ) did not take into account the different intelligences that a person can possess and develop.

His main work, Structures of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences (1983), explains his theoretical approach and his eight types of intelligence (tixag 12). His conception of this construct has had a great impact not only in the field of psychology, but also in the educational field, where he has inspired thousands of teachers and educators who explore new ways of teaching thanks to these different intelligences. In Gardner’s own words: Every human being has a unique combination of intelligence. This is the fundamental educational challenge.

  • Learn more about Howard Gardner’s theory in psychologist and writer Bertrand Regader’s article: Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Biography of Howard Gardner

Howard Gardner was born in 1943 in Scranton, Pennsylvania (United States). He is the son of a Jewish family who settled in the United States while fleeing from Nazi Germany, and has always been a reading and piano enthusiast from a young age. As a student he stood out for his brilliance, and was accepted at the prestigious Harvard University where he became interested in developmental psychology due to the influence of Erik Erikson and Jerome Bruner.

After obtaining a doctorate in psychology at Harvard University and completing his postdoctoral research in the field of neuropsychology, Gardner contributed greatly to the field of education and psychology . As already mentioned, Gardner, in the 1980s, proposed and developed the theory of multiple intelligences based on his empirical work.

Teaching and projects

In addition, he has continued his professional career as a teacher, which has led him to be part of the same university institution where he studied. At present, Howard Gardner is a professor of the John H Chair of Cognition and Education . & Elisabeth A. Hobbs at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and director of the Harvard Project Zero, a research group created in 1967 by the Harvard School of Education, whose object of study is the learning processes of children and adults.

In addition, from the 1990s, in collaboration with William Damon and the famous psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, (the latter is well known for being the author of the flow state concept) he founded The Good Project. Gardner, today, continues to direct this foundation, which he coordinates with a group of professionals who promote excellence and ethics in education, dealing with different topics: civic participation, organizational collaboration or the correct use of the digital medium, among others.

Thanks to his work, he has received several prizes or awards, especially for his theory of multiple intelligences. He is Doctor Honoris Causa by several universities, among them Tel Aviv, Princeton or Mc Gill. He has been awarded by the John D. &amp Foundation; Catherine T. MacArthur and, in addition, has received more than 20 honorary degrees. In 2011, he received the Prince of Asturias Award for Social Sciences.

His great work: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences

After spending time working with different groups of individuals (children with and without disabilities and adults with brain damage), Gardner began to develop a theory that synthesizes his research and observations.

His theory is a counterweight to the paradigm of a single intelligence , because, after his research and experiences, he concluded that human life requires the development of various types of intelligence, not a unitary intelligence. Therefore, contrary to the traditional theories about intelligence that focus on a single intelligence or general intelligence, he proposed that people have different ways of learning and thinking, and identified and described eight types of intelligence.

  • You can click on the title of each intelligence to access more detailed information.

1. Linguistic intelligence

Is the ability to master language and communication . It includes not only oral language but also writing or gestures

2. Logical-mathematical intelligence

It is the ability to reason in a deductive and logical way and the ability to solve mathematical problems. It is usually associated with scientists and the speed of solving mathematical problems. It is the indicator that determines how much logical-mathematical intelligence is possessed.

3. Spatial Intelligence

Also known as visual-spatial intelligence, it is the ability to observe the world and objects from different perspectives , as well as the ability to manipulate or create mental images in order to solve problems. This ability is not limited to vision, as spatial intelligence is also developed in blind people. Spatial intelligence stands out in chess players and professionals in the visual arts (painters, designers, sculptors…).

4. Musical intelligence

For Gardner there is a musical intelligence in all people, characterized by the ability to recognize and compose musical tones and rhythms . There are people more advanced in this type of intelligence, who are able to play instruments and read or compose musical pieces with ease

5. Body and kinesthetic intelligence

Is the ability to use the skill of coordinating body movements . This type of intelligence is a manifestation of the connection between mind (and emotions) and movement. Outstanding in body intelligence are: dancers, actors or sportsmen.

6. Intrapersonal intelligence

This type of intelligence is characterized by the ability to understand and control one’s internal environment. People who master intrapersonal intelligence are able to access and reflect on feelings and emotions. Generally, this type of individual enjoys greater emotional and psychological well-being.

7. Interpersonal Intelligence

Interpersonal intelligence refers to the ability to discern the emotions and intentions of others. In other words, it allows you to interpret the words or gestures, or the goals and objectives of other people. Today, it is considered a very important part of emotional intelligence.

8. Naturalistic intelligence

This type of intelligence is the ability to distinguish, order, classify, understand and use elements of the environment , objects, animals or plants. Therefore, this type of intelligence refers to the capacity for observation, experimentation, reflection and questioning of the physical environment. Biologists, botanists or hunters usually have a high level of natural intelligence.

Bases of Multiple Intelligences

Gardner argues that there are both biological and cultural bases in multiple intelligences . Neurobiological research indicates that learning is the result of modifications in the synaptic connections between neurons. The primary elements of the different intelligences are found in the brain regions where these transformations occur.

On the other hand, Gardner explains that culture also plays an important role in the development of these intelligences and different cultures value different intelligences differently. Thus, the cultural value for executing the tasks related to these intelligences serves as a motivation for developing them .

A psychologist as influential as he is controversial

Perhaps the main characteristic of Howard Garner has been his ability to generate intuitive ideas capable of resonating with the way of thinking of many people outside the field of psychology.

The concept of multiple intelligences, in particular, has had a greater penetration in the world of pedagogy than in that of psychology, despite the fact that there is no very clear way of applying these ideas to the way in which children should be educated.

On the other hand, Howard Gardner’s opposition to the idea of defining intelligence on the basis of psychometric criteria has earned him much criticism, since it complicates the way to advance in the study of mental abilities.

In any case, there is no doubt that Gardner has served to remind us that we must go beyond statistics and numbers to understand the psychological abilities available to human beings, which is already an important lesson.

Bibliographic references:

  • Gardner, H. (2006). Schaler, Jeffrey A., ed. “A Blessing of Influences” in Howard Gardner Under Fire . Illinois: Open Court.
  • Gardner, H. (1989). To Open Minds: Chinese Clues to the Dilemma of American Education . New York: Basic Books.

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