Traditionally, logical-mathematical intelligence, together with linguistics, have been considered representative of the concept of intelligence in general. That is why they have predominated in the formal educational system and the academic environment. This type of intelligence is highly complex and goes far beyond mathematics. In addition, it implies the ability to reason and establish relationships, among others. If you want to discover more about this intelligence, be sure to read this Psychology-Online article: Logical-mathematical intelligence: characteristics, examples and activities to improve it.
Logical-mathematical intelligence is one of the eight intelligences identified by psychologist Howard Gardner in his Theory of multiple intelligences. This new conception of the intellect challenged the concept of unity in intelligence, prevalent in the Western academic system.
Logical-mathematical intelligence: definition
What is logical-mathematical intelligence? Logical-mathematical intelligence is the
Mathematics studies abstraction, relationships and numerical operations, while logic refers to the processes of analysis and reasoning. Both skills are closely related, however, they are not inseparable. So a person can present a logical ability far superior to mathematics and vice versa. The logical-mathematical intelligence is a complex skill and is made up of mathematical calculations, logical thinking, inductive reasoning, and deductive, problem solving, identifying patterns and relationships, posing and verifying hypothesis.
Logical-mathematical intelligence manifests itself since childhood, since the existence of a innate sense quantity and early estimate. Subsequently, logical, abstract and mathematical thinking is acquired through learning. This ability involves both linguistic, visuospatial, planning, and working memory skills. The competence complexity of this intelligence explains why its brain location is located in various areas of both hemispheres, including the left parietal lobe, the temporal and occipital areas of association, as well as the frontal lobe.
People with a high development of this intelligence generally present a series of characteristics. Below we list the main characteristics of logical-mathematical intelligence:
- Mastery of the notions of quantity, time and cause and effect.
- Ability to find a solution logical type to problems. This resolution process can be very quick.
- I handle the numerical in general and the mathematical operations.
- Elevated analysis and reasoning skills.
- They enjoy conducting experiments and drawing conclusions from them.
- Ability to formulate and verify different hypotheses.
- Ability to draw relationships and connections between different elements, which is related to its high capacity for classification and categorization.
- Ease of estimation and memory of different numerical signs.
- They usually resort to the use of lists and schemes in the organization of information.
- They are curious about natural phenomena and in their day to day, conducting research, deductions and searching for solutions or answers.
- They are people who generally have a rational thinking and a scientific methodology that they also apply in their daily life, in decision-making, etc.
- People with this type of intelligence are usually organized, methodical, with the ability to plan and solve problems in everyday life. They are also characterized by being curious and inquisitive.
- Mental math skills and monetary.
- Ease and interest in solving puzzles, puzzles, problems and mental challenges.
- Good performance in skill games that involve strategy.
- Development of metacognition, that is, of awareness, supervision and control over thinking and learning processes, as well as their own performance and performance. This metacognitive ability facilitates the detection of own errors and the extraction of the maximum performance of cognitive skills.
Logical-mathematical intelligence: professions
Due to the characteristics of logical mathematical intelligence, the trades that are associated with this ability are those in the field of engineering, economics, science and research, mathematics, physics, chemistry, accounting, and so on.
To better understand logical-mathematical intelligence, we will present examples. Some people have stood out throughout history for their extreme logical-mathematical intelligence are the following:
- Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson: They were a group of African American female mathematicians. Her calculations at NASA were decisive for the arrival on the Moon. The problems and operations were carried out almost entirely by hand, which is why they were dubbed "human computers." In addition, they had to constantly face the difficulties of being women and black in the world of science.
- Sofia Kovalévskaya: she was a Russian mathematician of gypsy ethnicity. He made great contributions to the field of analysis, mechanics, and equations. She was the first woman to achieve a position as a university professor in Europe, in 1881.
- Alan Turing: she was a British mathematician, considered one of the forerunners of computer science. He worked during the Second World War in the decipherment of the Nazi codes, thanks to which it is estimated that the duration of this war period was shortened between two and four years. Also, she made great contributions in the field of artificial intelligence.
Looking at everyday examples, people with this intelligence have an ability to calculate the cost of purchase or how much change should be when paying, as well as being able to easily make lists and planning the diary.
Logical-mathematical intelligence is not only useful in the academic and scientific fields, but it also facilitates the ability to function in the world, as well as to understand it. Given the need to stimulate this ability, it is interesting to know how to develop logical-mathematical intelligence in adults. Here are a series of activities to develop logical-mathematical thinking and games to enhance logical-mathematical intelligence:
- Perform puzzles and puzzles: These activities should not be limited to infancy alone. Currently there are a wide variety of games to enhance logical-mathematical intelligence aimed at adulthood that can help in the stimulation and maintenance of this ability.
- Use schemes and lists on a day-to-day basis: begin to make use of these resources both in the organization and planning of the day-to-day, of the tasks, such as in the decision-making process, encourages the development of more thinking mathematical logician.
- Make scientific visits: Going to places like museums or observatories can promote interest and learning in this field.
- Ask yourself questions: Another of the exercises to develop logical-mathematical intelligence is to ask questions about a series of phenomena of the day to day or of the operation of certain objects about which we have never reflected due to their everyday life. You can make a series of hypotheses and later look for information about them.
- Discover: the discovery learning it is also recommended for the stimulation of this intelligence. An example of this would be trying to intuit the operation of an object, later disassemble it and carry out an analysis of its parts.
- Reflect: Currently in the information age it is common to ask a question but not stop to think about it, since we can find the answer in seconds through technology. It is positive to reflect for a few minutes about what we have considered, try to intuit the answer, draw relationships or connections with the knowledge we already have, and mentally establish a series of hypotheses or deductions before finding the solution by others media.
- Calculate: make the effort to make and face small day-to-day calculations in your mind, such as the purchase price and the exchange value, the distance traveled in kms throughout a day, how much each person has to pay for a group dinner, etc. are exercises that help develop intelligence Mathematical logician.
- Develop curiosity: encourage curiosity about daily events, as well as seek out the concepts or ideas of the logical-mathematical field that appear in conversations or readings to incorporate them into our knowledge.
- Play logical and / or mathematical games: Currently there are a large number of board games that promote the development of this ability, as well as strategy and logic games. In addition, they are a good choice, since there are both individual and collective options. Playing with other people can be more enjoyable on various occasions, as well as making it possible to learn from other people. Today there are also a large number of escape rooms, in which a series of puzzles and logic problems must be solved in a group. Here you will find games to improve memory.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Logical-mathematical intelligence: characteristics, examples and activities to improve it
