The originator of the theory of multiple intelligences, Howard Gardner,  a  professor  of  education  at  Harvard  University,  defines intelligence as the potential ability to process a certain sort of information.  The  different  types  of  intelligence  are  for  the  most  part independent of one another, and no type is more important than the other.

In  all,  Gardner  identifies  seven  different  types  of intelligence. These can be summarised as follows:

1. Verbal = linguistic, e.g. lexical skills, formal speech, verbal debate, creative writing.

2.  Body = kinesthetic (movement), e.g. body language, physical gestures, creative dance, physical exercise, drama.

3.  Musical = rhythmic,   e.g.   music   performance,   singing,  musical composition, rhythmic patterns.

4.  Logic = mathematic,   e.g.   numerical   aptitude,   problem solving, deciphering codes, abstract symbols and formulae.

5.  Visual = spatial, e.g. patterns and designs, painting, drawing, active imagination, sculpture, colour schemes.

6.  Interpersonal   (relationships   with   others),   e.g. person-to-person communication, empathy practices, group projects, collaboration skills, receiving and giving feedback.

7. Intrapersonal (self-understanding and insight), e.g. thinking strategies, emotional processing, knowing yourself, higher order reasoning, focusing=concentration.

Form the book "THE COMPLETE BOOK OF INTELLIGENCE TESTS" by Philip Carter, Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd 2005.

Opinion:
I remember running into this a few years ago, I was very intrigued at it’s premise.  I have long suspected that the classic IQ test is inadequate - I have certain friends that are brilliant with their hands, or amazing musicians, yet the classic IQ test rates them as not-so-intelligent.

I assert; that the classic IQ test is a dangerous touchstone because of it’s authoritative position in society - some people score well and can erroneously conclude that they are of superior intelligence (which is a classic characteristic of incompetence), yet other people may score low on the test and internalise an inferior sense of competence.

I favour Howard Gardner’s proposal, as it accounts for relevant variables that the class IQ Test dismisses.

Maslow studied healthy people, most psychologists study sick people. The characteristics listed here are the results of 20 years of study of people who had the “full use and exploitation of talents, capacities, potentialities, etc..”

1. Experience things fully, vividly, selflessly. Throw yourself into the experiencing of something: concentrate on it fully, let it totally absorb you.
2. Life is an ongoing process of choosing between safety (out of fear and need for defense) and risk (for the sake of progress and growth): Make the growth choice a dozen times a day.
3. Let the self emerge. Try to shut out the external clues as to what you should think, feel, say, and so on, and let your experience enable you to say what you truly feel.
4. When in doubt, be honest. If you look into yourself and are honest, you will also take responsibility. Taking responsibility is self-actualizing.
5. Listen to your own tastes. Be prepared to be unpopular.
6. Use your intelligence, work to do well the things you want to do, no matter how insignificant they seem to be.
7. Make peak experiencing more likely: get rid of illusions and false notions. Learn what you are good at and what your potentialities are not.
8. Find out who you are, what you are, what you like and don’t like, what is good and what is bad for you, where you are going, what your mission is. Opening yourself up to yourself in this way means identifying defenses–and then finding the courage to give them up.

Check out the full article: Maslow Self Actualization

• Eat healthy foods and avoid junk foods
• Exercise.
• Take time to do things you enjoy.
• Get something done that you have been putting off.
• Do things that make use of your own special talents and abilities.
• Dress in clothes that make you feel good about yourself.
• Give yourself rewards.
• Spend time with people.
• Make your living space a place that honors the person you are.
• Display items that you find attractive.
• Make your meals a special time.
• Learn something new or improve your skills.
• Begin doing those things that you know will make you feel better about yourself.
• Do something nice for another person.
• Make it a point to treat yourself well every day.

Check out the website here: Social Anxiety Support

Professor Ian Hickie from the University’s Brain and Mind Research Institute argues that if increased diagnosis and treatment has actually led to demonstrable benefits and is cost effective, then it is not yet being over diagnosed.

He says increased diagnosis and treatment has led to a reduction in suicides and increased productivity in the population.

On the other side of the debate Professor Gordon Parker, a psychiatrist from the University of New South Wales says the current threshold for what is considered to be ‘clinical depression’ is too low. He fears it could lead to a diagnosis of depression becoming less credible.

It is, he says, normal to be depressed and points to his own cohort study which followed 242 teachers. Fifteen years into the study, 79 per cent of respondents had already met the symptom and duration criteria for major, minor or sub-syndromal depression.

He blames the over-diagnosis of clinical depression on a change in its categorisation, introduced in 1980.

Source: University of Sydney

Scientists at Melbourne’s Howard Florey Institute have shown that mental and physical exercise can improve behavioural deficits in schizophrenia and repair damaged chemical transmitter pathways in the brain.

“Pharmaceutical approaches may not be the sole answer for a given brain disease. People may still need optimal levels of physical and mental activity, as well as a healthy diet…”

Check out the full article here: Howard Florey Institute: Schizophrenia improved by mental and physical exercise

Here’s an interesting story from News-Medical.net

From the article;
An Australian psychiatrist has accused the medical profession of over-diagnosing depression, and says thousands of people are wrongly being prescribed drugs to treat it. According to Professor Gordon Parker of the University of New South Wales, the current threshold for what is considered to be “clinical depression” is too low and he warns that the condition is becoming less credible.

Get the full story here http://www.news-medical.net/?id=28914
——————–

I think he makes an interesting point about the “exaggerated marketing claims” of drug companies being a contributing factor towards the escalating diagnosis of depression. And I do feel that mass-marketing is always ready to cash in on something, no matter how pitiful. Mass marketing is all about the art of lieing…. but I digress…

I think Modern society is not only a cause, but also a symptom of depression. Consider this fact; Nigerians have the lowest rate of global depression.

I’m very interested in how we can get through this unnatural modern environment without going completely mad, so here is my little list that helps me to keep the blues away;

• Bush Walking
• Exercising
• Being around warm people
• Hobbies
• Hot Chilli Thai food
• Talking to you on this forum

What are your tips for keep the blues away? (stuff you actually practise)

It’s not looking good according to the WHO (World Health Organisation)…

“Depression is the leading cause of disability, and the 4th leading contributor to the global burden of disease in 2000. By the year 2020, depression is projected to reach 2nd place for all ages, both sexes. Today, depression is already 2nd in the age category 15-44 years for both sexes combined.”

Quick facts from the WHO;

• Depression is common, affecting about 121 million people worldwide.
• Depression is among the leading causes of disability worldwide.

…and I am not surprised
By now you’re probably aware of my feelings towards modern society, therefore i’ll skip the rant about how society is making us sick… BUT, the above figures do prove a point; that modern society is an unnatural environment and is not conducive to overall contentment.

So what’s the problem?
I’m not 100% certain… but I do suspect that consumerism is deteriorating the fabric of society. And mass marketing is constantly telling us to buy more, get more, eat more, be more, etc.

Mass marketing is becoming increasingly clever and deviously surreptitious in it’s execution. I think mass marketing is an evil form of psychotherapy, constantly trying to get into our subconscious. Try and go one day without running into mass marketing - it’s not easy.

The vicious cycle
Here is the formula of modern society;

• Work 40 hours a week, and become time poor.
• Being time poor we have to buy ready made food, which is expensive.
• Being time poor we become stressed, we need to buy a holiday.
• Now there is less money so we have to work more.

Repeat the above steps and add more working hours (and stress) for each cycle. And for each cycle, you get a step closer to depression.

Obviously my example is a very generalised one. But the principle of “work more for less” stands true. I feel great sadness when I see people filling their shopping carts with overpriced processed foods - it saddens me because I know that some corporation has just cashed in on the sweat of their hard work. Not to mention the fact that the processed food is very likely to be unhealthy.

I realise that the consumer is responsible for their choices, but I can’t get away from feeling that somehow, even though there are 1000’s of products to choose from, there really is little choice, if any.

Time to fight back
If you’re are reading this article then you’re already taking affirmative action, because you’re seeking…. don’t stop seeking, learn the truth! Get informed and fight back!!!

Cathi Cohen, in her book, Raise Your Child’s Social IQ, offers the following list of characteristics of children with positive and negative self esteem:

Kids with High Self-Esteem

• Have fairly stable moods
• Set realistic goals and achieve them
• Have self-motivation and “stick-to-it-ness”
• Can accept rejection or critical feedback
• Can say “no” to peers
• Are realistically aware of their own strengths and weaknesses

Kids with Low Self-Esteem

• Often blame others for their actions
• Need to be liked by everyone
• See themselves as losers
• Are critical of others
• Get frustrated easily
• Have trouble accepting responsibility for their actions
• Make negative comments about themselves
• Tend to be quitters

Hmmmm… interesting. I can identify with points from both lists.