Fluid Intelligence in a Crystallized World

This week, we talk about intelligence. In particular, we will be focusing on a type of intelligence called fluid intelligence. In our lessons, we will learn about the distinction between crystallized and fluid intelligence, and why fluid intelligence may be far more important to nurture as we age. We will see examples of fluid intelligence in action, and will use these examples to help us to build a plan to improve our own fluid intelligence.

In the mid-1880’s, scientists thought they could determine intelligence by measuring the size of the human skull (the larger the skull, the smarter the person). This was followed by introspection (the ability of a human to reflect on their own thoughts) as a measure of intelligence.

The IQ test was developed in 1904 as a way to distinguish mentally retarded children from normally intelligent, but lazy children.

It consists of a number of tasks which measure various measures of intelligence. It includes tests of short-term memory, analytical thinking, mathematical ability and spatial recognitions. It measures not what you have learned, but rather your capacity to learn.

Research has begun to suggest that there is no one single test that can accurately judge how well a person can perform mental and cognitive tasks. It points to three different components of intelligence (also known as a “cognitive profile”). They are short-term memory, reasoning and a verbal component.

Psychologist Raymond Cattell is credited with the development of the theory of two types of intelligence, fluid and crystallized. Cattell was one of the original psychologists to criticize the IQ test as influenced by social status, special abilities which are distinct from intelligence, or other environmental factors. His theory of fluid and crystallized intelligence identified two very different types of intelligence.

Crystallized intelligence was referred to as the ability to make use of acquired information or knowledge (what we may call “book smart”).

Fluid intelligence has less to do with information and more to do with the ability to be adaptable and solve problems (more like “street smarts”). People who have high levels of fluid intelligence are good at solving problems and thinking outside the box. It requires a sense of awareness and open-mindedness.

Fluid intelligence is your ability to think, reason, identify patterns, solve problems and understand the relationship between things. While crystallized intelligence is developed by studying and learning facts, fluid intelligence is not built on facts or data. Fluid intelligence uses abstract reasoning to see things from other perspectives and to modify beliefs when you discover that your existing information is wrong.

In the past, it was believed that fluid intelligence peaks in early adulthood, and then declines gradually. It was thought that training could not improve fluid intelligence. However, research has begun to suggest that fluid intelligence is not set in adolescence, and may in fact be trained. This is especially important because as we age, our ability to reason abstractly decreases.

The key to training fluid intelligence is in building working memory. The complexity of tasks involved in the formation of the working memory influences the amount of information which can be stored. These complex tasks require a type of mental control program that aids in creating rules for memory. Fluid intelligence is linked closely to the efficiency of constructing these mental control programs.

There are ways that you might be able to increase your fluid intelligence. Some are lifestyle type ideas, things that should be incorporated into your life such as:

· Try new things: When you try new things, you challenge the brain to work in new ways and create new neural connections.

· Push your limits: Go beyond your comfort zone to continue to build more connections in the brain

· Use all areas of the brain, and a variety of skills (such as analytical skills and creativity) to solve problems

· Be social, which uses a range of skills from memory to empathy

· Stay physically active

Research has looked at other ways to improve fluid intelligence. A 2011 study showed that training in continuous performance tasks stimulated brain activity which led to improved results on intelligence tests. This training in this 2011 study used a formalized computer program called dual n-back, which is similar to Card Shark on BrainHQ. This improvement in intelligence scores occurred across all ability levels (low and high IQ).

Another way to improve fluid intelligence is to practice mathematics. Although the formulas and basic math knowledge come from crystallized intelligence, the ability to develop a strategy to solve a problem is fluid intelligence. Mathematics requires a strong cognitive effort including concentration, automaticity and mental mathematics, and can improve fluid intelligence and the ability to reason and solve problems.

Some psychologists blame the digital age for a premium on facts, figures and data (crystallized intelligence) which has devalued fluid intelligence. New research suggests that motor skills, hand-eye coordination, aerobic conditioning and daily exercise are important for working memory and fluid intelligence. There is also a correlation between fluid intelligence and creativity and innovation.

The use it or lose it theory pertains to fluid intelligence as well. Mental stimulation is necessary to keep connections alive. It includes things such as looking for new experiences, skills and ideas and educate us in a way to improve mental clarity.

So, we have found that fluid intelligence can decline as we age, but can be improved with training. We discovered that practicing mathematics can benefit, along with creativity and innovation. But what if you can combine mathematics with creative thinking?

Mathematics can be a difficult subject to teach. And if we are to believe that fluid intelligence can be improved with mathematics training, helping people to better understand the abstract thinking that goes into mathematics can improve their fluid intelligence. Many young people have been turned off to math by poor instructors and an inability to understand the concepts and cognitive strategies to grasp the theories. Imagine if young people can be reached at an early age, and exposed to mathematics in a way that is learner friendly? The key may be in the way that the topic is introduced to the students.

John Berray was a long-time educator in San Diego who believed in the power of exploration and discovery and encouraged curiosity in understanding mathematics. He did this by seeing mathematics through the eyes of his students. He was a 2014 Teacher of the Year in San Diego. He gradually became a math curriculum specialist, which allowed him to lead innovations in the Grossmont Union High School District. His teaching methods were engaging and changed the ways his students viewed math. (Hernandez, 2020)

One of the innovations that he championed was to convert ordinary tables into whiteboards. This process allows math students to write on their desks (something that has traditionally been frowned upon) to spark creativity and collaborative learning. (Berray, 2016)

He then used a theory first described in the 1989 book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey (Covey, 2016) which determined how to put first things first, one of the 7 habits.

In First Things First, we organize ourselves by prioritizing day-to-day actions based on what is most important, not what is most urgent. It uses values rather than desires or impulses at any time. It uses the mathematical quadrants and defines each of the endpoints. There are four components to our time management. They include urgent, not urgent, important and not important. Covey suggested that most time should be spent on Quadrant II, which is Important and Not urgent. It is in this quadrant that relationships are built, opportunities are recognized and planning is done. It places a primary focus on relationships and results and a secondary focus on time.

Berray took the work of Covey and transformed it into an educational model which would focus on the student and not on the other things involved in education. He explains how education perceives each of the four quadrants:

The takeaway of this is that innovative and creative thinking, the kind that sparks new ideas out of existing ideas, are the nucleus of fluid intelligence. It is through this type of innovative thinking that you can improve your fluid intelligence in ways that even other techniques may lack, producing results that can be used in a variety of ways.

He was an extremely successful educator, and would receive letters from students long after they completed their education. He motivated them by seeing them as individuals instead of a group. He used creativity to explain difficult concepts, and helped even the most reluctant math student to understand the difficult concepts of trigonometry and calculus. By devising this unique interpretation of Covey’s work, he inspired thousands of students to become better people.

We can be more like John and others who have grasped the importance of improving our fluid intelligence. Whether it is done by brain training programs, movement, stepping out to try new things, a whole brain approach to life or by using creative and innovative ways to change the world, fluid intelligence is a very important facet of our personality and can be improved with effort. What new ideas can you come up with today?

Berray, J. (2016, August 30). Make Your Own Whiteboard Tables. Retrieved from johnberray.worpress.com: https://johnberray.wordpress.com/

Brown, R. (2016, Decemberr 15). Hebb and Cattell: The Genesis of the Theory of Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5156710/

Covey, S. (2016). 7 Habits of Highly Successful People. New York: Mango.

Hernandez, D. (2020, February 25). John Berray was a West Hills High School math teacher for decades. Retrieved from sandiegouniontribune.com: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/story/2020-02-25/beloved-educator-whose-passion-for-math-piqued-studentss-interest-dies

History of IQ Test. (2016, February). Retrieved from 123test.com: https://www.123test.com/history-of-IQ-test/

Hussain, A. (2018, January). 7 Habits of Highly Effective People [Summary & Takeaways]. Retrieved from hubstop.com: https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/habits-of-highly-effective-people-summary

Kaufman, S. (2014, February 3). What Do IQ Tests Test?: Interview with Psychologist W. Joel Schneider. Retrieved from scientificamerican.com: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/what-do-iq-tests-test-interview-with-psychologist-w-joel-schneider/

Oppong, T. (2018, June 28). How to Improve Fluid Intelligence in The Age of Crystallised Knowledge. Retrieved from medium.com: https://medium.com/personal-growth/how-to-improve-fluid-intelligence-in-the-age-of-crystallised-intelligence-3968a512b994

Pursey, K. (2018, February 12). What is Fluid Intelligence and How to Develop It. Retrieved from learning-mind.com: https://www.learning-mind.com/fluid-intelligence-develop/

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Vinney, C. (2019, January 9). Fluid Versus Crystallized Intelligence: What’s the Difference? Retrieved from thoughtco.com: https://www.thoughtco.com/fluid-crystallized-intelligence-4172807