Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

The cognitive capacity of the human being It is one of the most researched aspects of psychology. The concept of intelligence has varied throughout history, although for the most part it has been considered the ability to solve problems and adapt efficiently to the environment.

There are theories that consider it a single general capacity, or a set of hierarchical capacities and subordinated to a basic capacity, while other theorists see that this concept is a set of more or less independent capacities that allow us to adapt successfully. One of the existing theories that try to explain how intelligence is structured is Robert J. Sternberg’s triarchic theory of intelligence.

Sternberg’s triarchic theory: general concept

Sternberg’s triarchic theory of intelligence is based on his conception that traditional and hierarchical models of intelligence are not exhaustive since they do not account for the use made of intelligence itself, limiting themselves to conceptualizing its nature and operation without observing how it is linked and applied in a real context.

Thus, this theory considers that the measurement of intellectual capacity has focused only on one aspect of intelligenceignoring other highly relevant aspects that form cognitive abilities in themselves. In conclusion. Sternberg suggests that it is not enough to see what is done, but also how and why, when acting.

For Sternberg, intelligence is any mental activity that guides conscious adaptation to the environment and the selection or transformation of this with the purpose of predicting results and being able to actively provoke the adaptation of one to the environment or of the environment to one. It is the set of thinking abilities that are used in solving more or less everyday or abstract problems.

This author’s conception is close to the vision of intelligence as a set of capabilities instead of a single unitary and unmodifiable element. It is from this idea and the perception that other theories do not establish how intelligence is linked to the real world that the author establishes his theory of triarchic intelligence, whose name is due to the consideration of three types of intelligence.

The three types of intelligence

Sternberg develops a theory according to which he considers the existence of three types of intelligence that explain the processing of information at an internal, external level and at the level of interaction between the two.

In other words, consider the existence of three basic abilities that determine intellectual capacity. Specifically, it establishes the existence of analytical intelligence, practical intelligence and creative intelligence.

1. Analytical or componential intelligence

For Sternberg’s triarchic theory of intelligence, analytical intelligence involves the ability to capture, store, modify and work with information. It is the closest to the unitary conception of intelligence, referring to the ability to establish plans and manage cognitive resources. Thanks to analytical intelligence we can perform mental operations such as defining, making decisions and generating solutions.

In this intelligence we can find the elementary components or processes that allow us to work on cognitive representations of realitymodify them and put them through processing that allows a response to be given.

These components can be divided into metacomponents or control processes that allow decisions to be made and how to think and act, as well as planning, performance or realization components, which are launched from the metacomponents and allow said established plans to be carried out. by them and the acquisition components which allow learning and obtaining information.

2. Practical or contextual intelligence

This type of intelligence refers to the ability of human beings to adapt to the environment in which they live. First of all, the organism tries to survive from what already exists in the environment, taking advantage of the opportunities it offers to adapt.

However, if this is not possible, the person must establish other mechanisms to adapt and survive. These other processes are the selection of environment and stimuli in order to improve their situation and/or the shaping of the environment in cases where it is not possible to change the environment, in this case making changes to the environment itself to better adjust your possibilities.

For example, a person who is hungry may select the environment and move to a place where there is an abundance of food or take advantage of elements present in the environment that were not previously part of his diet to feed himself, or he may decide to modify the environment by cultivating in a garden its own food. It is about applying cognitive skills with an adaptive purpose.

3. Creative or experiential intelligence

This type of intelligence is considered the integration of information obtained from the outside with our psyche. In other words, it is that type of skill that allows us to learn from experience. It is also linked to creativity and problem solving not previously experienced.

In this sense Sternberg observes that the degree of novelty is important of the experiences and tasks. The ideal is that the task can be new to a moderate degree, so that the subject can create and react to new stimuli while having some tool that allows him to cope with it.

Another relevant aspect is automationthat is, the ability to replicate a behavior or knowledge without requiring conscious effort. Repeating tasks on several occasions allows you to master them and reduce their level of novelty and the need for attention to each basic element that is part of them. The higher the level of automation, the greater the level of resources available to successfully tackle other tasks.

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