Intrapersonal Intelligence: What Is It And How Can It Be Improved?
When we talk about the concept of intelligence, it is very easy to think about what is needed to solve mathematical problems, repair a device or plan a strategy to follow in specific cases.
However, we can also consider that There is a type of mental abilities that are more private in nature, difficult to externalize in a very striking way What has been called Intrapersonal intelligence is a good example of this.
Intrapersonal intelligence is one of the types of intelligence proposed in the Theory of Multiple Intelligences of Howard Gardner The set of cognitive abilities to which it gives expression is somewhat nebulous and difficult to distinguish from other forms of intelligence, but in summary it can be said that Intrapersonal intelligence refers to the degree to which we know the internal aspects of our own way of thinking, feeling and acting
In other words, it represents our ability to know ourselves and intervene on our own psyche, in a broad sense.
In what way can we know ourselves?
According to the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, recognizing the repertoire of feelings that define our own way of being (and the type of stimuli that can induce each of them), discriminating well between different moods and taking advantage of this knowledge to regulate our behavior towards certain objectives. In this way, intrapersonal intelligence It is what makes it possible for us to know the internal aspects of our mind and use this information to our advantage
For example, knowing that you are especially sensitive to certain topics can facilitate the task of coping with conflictive situations, which can be key to avoiding losing control in these cases and, at the same time, working on techniques to control levels of anxiety, anger, etc. .
Differentiating concepts
intrapersonal intelligence can be easily confused with emotional intelligence, a theoretical construct on which several psychologists have worked and which is not born from the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. It is true that both types of intelligence emphasize self-awareness and emotion regulation, but emotional intelligence is a broader concept. Thus, the difference between intrapersonal intelligence and emotional intelligence is basically that intrapersonal intelligence only accounts for some processes that could be compared to what is measured when studying the latter.
On the other hand, intrapersonal intelligence can also be confused with interpersonal intelligence, which is also framed in the theory proposed by Gardner. Interpersonal intelligence is related to our ability to relate to others and work as a team optimally, while intrapersonal intelligence is private. That is, the first allows us to know others and interact with them in a useful and successful way, while the second allows us to do the same with ourselves.
Both, however, could have many links with what is understood as emotional intelligence
How to improve intrapersonal intelligence?
At this point, It is worth remembering that every form of intelligence can be trained and improved over time as if it were a muscle However, it must be said that intrapersonal intelligence is insufficiently studied and that it is difficult to propose exact methods supported by science to improve it.
However, regardless of the light that future scientific research may shed on this topic, I would recommend the following to see progress in the area of intrapersonal intelligence:
1. Give Mindfulness a try
He Mindfulness It has been shown to be useful in increasing one’s own emotion self-regulation skills, so it may be a good idea to start practicing it on a sustained basis. You can also try traditional forms of meditation.
I leave you two links so that, if you wish, you can delve into these two interesting disciplines:
2. Ask yourself what you are feeling often
Stopping to reflect on the feelings you usually experience will help you recognize them when they appear and detect their patterns, regularities, etc. Thus, You will know what situations trigger these moods and you will realize how you usually act when you feel this way
Mentally labeling these emotions with names or words in general is a good way to start.
3. Consider how you can direct this knowledge towards goals
Know a lot about our way of thinking and feeling is of little use if we do not take advantage of that information to improve our quality of life Intrapersonal intelligence is also, in part, being able to predict some things about our own behavior. Therefore, you can create action plans to intervene in your ways of feeling, thinking and acting.
An example would be hiding a chocolate bar because we know that when we enter periods of anxiety we tend to turn to food to seek relief.
4. Evaluate your progress
In order to progress in self-knowledge, It’s good to look back to see what works and what doesn’t Being critical of one’s own progress is also essential if we do not want to obtain an overly optimistic view of what we do.
These steps can help you to work better in dealing with yourself, but the last word is, of course, you. Each person is a world, and the existence of intrapersonal intelligence is a reminder of this. No manual or self-help book will be able to give you all the pieces you need to fully understand how you work. That task falls to you.
