Issues concerning sex and race differences in intelligence continue to stimulate considerable debate (Furnham et al., 1999). Regardless of most tests having been devised so as not to indicat

In a study done in the United Kingdom, mothers rated their male children higher on mathematical and spatial intelligence than their fathers (Furnham, 2000) yet both parents perceived their sons to be better at both spatial intelligence and mathematical intelligence than their daughters. Still, the interesting finding was that this result was stronger for the first child as opposed to the second one, suggesting the cultural significance attached to first-born sons. Nevertheless, it may seem that this is not a ubiquitous phenomenon seeing that in some western societies liberalism and feminism have swayed such significances.

In the literature review we shall commence with a look at the traditional view of intelligence as a global construct. Secondly, we shall look at Gardner’s theory of intelligence. The types of intelligence he offers are introduced and the cultural and gender variations in IQ estimations are discussed. The section concludes with a discussion of the educational implications that arise from Gardner’s theory.

The measurement of intelligence begun with the work of Francis Galton (Lawler, 1978). In accordance to Darwin’s theory of biological evolution, he held the belief that the distinguished families of Great Britain had been selected in the societal struggle for survival of the fittest as a result of their biologically superior traits (ibid.). Consequently, he became known as the founder of eugenics, the endeavour to improve the quality of “the race” by biological means and avert “inferior races and classes” from degrading the quality of the human race as a whole (ibid.). He thought that intelligence would be reflected in the physical abilities. Consequently, he devised a measure of intelligence by testing the sensory reactions of people (ibid.). Although he assumed that intelligence exists in greater proportions among the wealthier and more powerful members of society, his tests lacked validity. They failed to show that people he already viewed as more intelligent- the British ruling families-were in fact more “intelligent” than common labourers (ibid).

· Are there cultural differences between white and black estimations of multiple intelligences for the self and the child?

Some topics in this essay:
Nevertheless Eagly, Gardner Hatch, Armour�Thomas Gopaul-McNicol, Armour-Thomas Gopaul-McNicol, Furnham Gasson, South Africa, Galton Lawler, Intelligence Implicit, Furnham Mkhize, Alfred Binet, multiple intelligences, furnham 2001, spatial intelligence, cultural differences, south africa, gardner 1983, intelligence �, gopaul-mcnicol 1998, et al, theories intelligence, furnham et al, armour�thomas gopaul-mcnicol 1998, lay theories intelligence, overall multiple intelligences, estimations multiple intelligences,