Intelligence and Development: A Cognitive Theory (Cognitive Development) - Hardcover

Anderson, Mike

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0631161937 ISBN 13: 9780631161936

Publisher: Wiley–Blackwell, 1992

Synopsis

The debate on intelligence has been polarized between those who see it as a biological property, genetically determined, and those who see it as the property of knowledge systems, culturally determined. Anderson proposes a theory based on a synthesis of these two positions. He argues that while knowledge itself is a extrinsic cultural phenomenon, the mechanisms by which it is processed are innate components of individual brains. The rate and efficiency of knowledge acquistion is crucially determined by these mechanisms which vary from individual to individual according to genetically-determined biological factors. However, he argues that the development of intelligence can also be determined by the acquisition of new competences which are not genetically determined. Finally, the book analyzes such topics as infant intelligence, mental retardation and cognitive development in the light of this theory.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

For the best part of a century the debate about the nature of intelligence has polarized psychologists into two camps: those who believe that intelligence is a biological property of our brains, genetically determined, and those who believe that it is a property of knowledge systems and is culturally determined.

In this important new book Mike Anderson argues for a theory of intelligence and development which allows a synthesis of these two positions. He does so by distinguishing between information processing mechanisms that acquire knowledge and knowledge itself, and shows that there are really two senses of intelligence. The first relates to individual differences, which are caused primarily by a biological variable – the speed of basic processing mechanism. This can critically constrain the acquisition of knowledge. However, because how we think also depends on the kind of information we are exposed to, variations in experience will also contribute to individual differences.

The second way of thinking about intelligence relates to the development of intelligence. Mike Anderson argues that this results not from any increase in the speed of processing with age, but from the acquisition of new competences, afforded by specialized devices (modules) that are universal and unrelated to individual differences in intelligence.

Intelligence and Development goes on to re–analyze the data on topics such as infant intelligence, mental retardation and cognitive development in the light of this theory. The result is a stimulating and interesting book that will be essential reading for anyone in the field.

About the Author:

Mike Anderson is a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Western Australia.

About this edition

• Publisher: Wiley–Blackwell
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 0631161937
• ISBN 13: 9780631161936
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256