Adaptive Intelligence: Surviving and Thriving in Times of Uncertainty

283 Pages·2021·1.349 MB·English

by  Robert J. Sternberg

ADAPTIVE INTELLIGENCE
Adaptive Intelligence is a dramatic reappraisal and reframing of the
concept of human intelligence. In a sweeping analysis, Robert J.
Sternbergarguesthatweareusingafatally-flawed,outdatedconcep-
tionofintelligence;onewhichmaypromotetechnologicaladvance-
ment, but which has also accelerated climate change, pollution, the
use of weaponry, and inequality. Instead of focusing on the narrow
academicskillsmeasuredbystandardizedtests,societiesshouldteach
andassessadaptiveintelligence,definedastheuseofcollectivetalent
inserviceofthecommongood.Thisbookdescribeswhytheoutdated
notionofintelligencepersists,whatadaptiveintelligenceis,andhow
itcouldleadhumankindonamorepositivepath.
RobertJ.SternbergisProfessorofHumanDevelopmentatCornell
UniversityandHonoraryProfessorofPsychologyattheUniversityof
Heidelberg,Germany.HeisapastwinneroftheGrawemeyerAward
in Psychology, and the William James and James McKeen Cattell
AwardsoftheAssociationforPsychologicalScience

ADAPTIVE INTELLIGENCE
Surviving and Thriving in Times of Uncertainty
ROBERT J. STERNBERG
CornellUniversity
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fi
This book is dedicated to my wife Karin and my ve
– –
children Seth, Sara, Samuel, Brittany, and Melody all
of whom have made and will continue to make my world,
’
and I hope, everyones world, a much better place.

Contents
ListofTables pageviii
Preface ix
1 Introduction 1
2 WhatIsIntelligence?APanoplyofViews 27
3 IntelligenceastheBroadAbilitytoAdapttotheEnvironment 74
4 WhyGeneralIntelligenceMayBeUnhelpful,
orDetrimental,inTimesofInstability,andforthatMatter,
inOtherTimesasWell 127
5 HistoryoftheTheoryofAdaptiveIntelligence 149
6 MeasurementandTeachingofAdaptiveIntelligence 191
7 WhyDoPeoplePersistinSpecies-SuicidalBeliefs
andPracticesandWhat’stoBeDone? 214
8 TheGreatAdaptive-IntelligenceTest 244
Index 263
vii
Tables
2.1 VerbaldescriptionsofIQranges page40
2.2 PercentileequivalentsofsomeIQscores 43
3.1 Elementsoftasksrequiringadaptiveintelligence 85
5.1 Evolutionofthetheoryofadaptiveintelligence 150
6.1 Abbreviatedtestofadaptiveintelligence 193
6.2 Testofadaptiveintelligenceinthecontextofscientific 196
pursuits
6.3 Culturalintelligencetest 201
viii
Preface
I started studying intelligence when I was thirteen years old – in seventh
grade.IwasinterestedinintelligenceandintelligencetestingbecauseIhad
bombed the intelligence tests I was given as a child. My seventh-grade
scienceprojectwasmychancetomakesenseofitall.Theprojectdidnot
go altogether well. The head school system psychologist found out I was
givingIQteststomyclassmatesandwarnedmenevertobringthebook–
Measuring Intelligence – into school again.1 I didn’t. Instead, I have spent
mycareerstudyingintelligenceasaresearcher.
Thisbook,AdaptiveIntelligence,istheculminationoftheworkIstartedin
seventhgrade,tryingtounderstandwhatintelligenceisandhowitmanifests
itselfintheworld.Theyearshavegoneby.Psychometricians’understanding
of intelligence has evolved a bit since 1937 – the most accepted models are
nowhierarchical onesthat build onthe work ofCharles Spearman,Alfred
Binet,LewisTerman,DavidWechsler,RaymondCattell,JohnHorn,John
Carroll,andotherpioneersinthefieldofintelligence.Myownunderstand-
ingofintelligencehaschangedradicallyfromwhenIwasthirteenyearsold,
and even from when I wrote my first book about intelligence in 1977.2 At
that time, I thought the challenge of understanding intelligence was to
understand its information-processing components. Today, I think the
challengeistounderstandhowintelligencecanhelptosavetheworld–or
destroy it. That is what this book is about – how we either use our
intelligenceto adapt to theenvironment, ina broad sense, orelse use itto
bring aboutour own destructionasaspecies.We – humanity individually
andcollectively–haveachoice.
Iamextremelygratefultomywifeandchildren,whohavesupportedme
during the writing of this book and also during my many successes and
failuresinmycareerandlife.IalsowishtothankmyeditorsatCambridge,
David Repetto and Stephen Acerra, for their patience in waiting for this
bookmanuscripttobefinished.IfurtheramgratefultoEmilyWattonfor
her editing assistance and to Angela Valente, the copyeditor. I have had
ix