NATURALIST INTELLIGENCE: What is it, Characteristics, Examples and activities

Currently, and recently, the ability to relate to the environment and its elements is considered an intelligence, naturalistic intelligence. Despite being a skill little valued academically and, especially, in urban environments, this intelligence was what allowed humans to survive from the beginning of evolution. If you want to know more about this intelligence and how to exercise it, keep reading this Psychology-Online article: Naturalistic intelligence: what it is, characteristics, examples and activities.

Index

1. Naturalistic intelligence: what is it
2. Naturalistic intelligence: characteristics
3. Naturalistic Intelligence: Characters
4. Naturalistic intelligence: activities
5. Naturalistic intelligence test

The naturalistic intelligence it is one of the skills identified by the psychologist Howard Gardner in its Theory of multiple intelligences, dating from 1983. This type of intelligence was added later, in 1995, since initially its capabilities were included in spatial and logical-mathematical intelligence. However, after investigating about it and the various aspects that make it up, he decided to consider and recognize it as an independent and differentiated intelligence.

Naturalistic intelligence: definition

The naturalistic intelligence It is defined as the ability to perceive the environment and make classifications, distinctions and manipulations of the different elements that compose it; objects, plants or animals and their details. In addition, it implies the ability to make connections and relationships between these components, with the aim of improving the interaction with the environment through the information collected. This definition encompasses both urban, suburban and rural contexts.

Naturalistic intelligence is considered the most influential in the human being at an evolutionary level, since determined survival in the natural environment and the ability to adapt and influence the habitat. For this reason, the emergence and development of it is located in the Paleolithic.

In this capacity, a series of mental processes are involved such as observation, selection, skills of classification and categorization, identification of relationships, formulation of hypotheses related to the environment, experimentation and orientation towards nature. Despite the involvement of various cognitive processes, the essential characteristic of this Intelligence has to do with the information or elements with which it works, that is, the medium environmental.

Due to the implication of multiple factors, at the moment a specific brain location for this intelligence has not been established, although it is generally considered to be related to the right hemisphere.

A series of common traits present in those with a high development of the disease are listed below. naturalistic intelligence:

• Sensitivity and orientation towards nature and its forms, manifesting an attraction towards the natural environment and great capacity for enjoyment in it.
• Need to be in contact with the natural environment, where feelings of surprise, admiration and fascination are usually experienced.
• Increased awareness and concern about the environment.
• High tendency to middle scan and curiosity about him.
• Interest in observation, identification, interaction and animal and plant care, showing empathy for them.
• Higher perception and awareness of the environment, as well as its variations or fluctuations.
• Clear memory on details of the elements of nature or the environment in general terms.
• High capacity for the identification and classification of different species of fauna and flora taking into account its characteristics.
• Inclination towards learning about natural phenomena and life cycles.
• Adaptability to different environments or habitats.
• Another characteristic of naturalistic intelligence and that people with such intelligence can present is the collection of natural elements and / or records about them.

Naturalistic Intelligence: Professions

People with a high development of naturalistic intelligence are inclined towards professions or disciplines such as biology, veterinary, botany, zoology, paleontology, meteorology, gardening, agronomy, agriculture, paleontology, forest safety, geology, astronomy, landscaping etc.

Here we show you a series of characters and examples of naturalistic intelligence:

• Alexander von Humboldt: he was a 19th century Prussian naturalist and explorer who traveled throughout America, where he also condemned slavery and discrimination. He is considered the father of modern geography and an example of a character with naturalistic intelligence. He worked for science for 70 years and used a large part of his finances to help young people with limited resources who wanted to dedicate themselves to science. He is considered one of the first Western people to suggest that humans could be causing climate change and having a negative impact on the environment.
• George Washington Carver: he was a 19th century African American agronomist and botanist. He was born into a family of slaves and was freed at the end of the civil war. He is recognized as one of the great agricultural researchers, throughout his life he worked in the agricultural extension, sustainable agriculture and the promotion of alternative crops and new applications from them. In addition, another of his objectives was to teach the former slaves already freed different techniques agriculture to achieve self-sufficiency and independence from it, so it is an example of intelligence naturalist.
• Jane Goodall: she is an English primatologist and ethologist. She is currently considered the greatest expert on chimpanzees, since she has been studying them for more than 55 years. His research focuses on the social and family interactions of these primates, but his results have also provided knowledge about the behavior of human beings. In addition, he has done a great job in the defense and protection of animal welfare.
• Indigenous villages: In general, indigenous peoples constitute an excellent example of naturalistic intelligence, since they coexist in total respect and harmony with nature, denounce its exploitation and actively defend it against its destruction, sometimes with their own lives. Some of the indigenous leaders are Berta Cáceres and Luis Macas.

Research on naturalistic intelligence shows that living or having grown up in a rural environment or close to nature influences the development of this type of ability. However, with adequate stimulation and exercise, their training is possible, since, as Gardner theorized, intelligences are not static and fixed. Therefore, below we show a series of activities that can be done to increase naturalistic intelligence:

• Contact with the nature: the most basic of all exercises to stimulate naturalistic intelligence is to get in touch with nature. You can explore what natural sites exist near where you live and make a regular visit or excursion to each of them. Many times we are not aware of what is in our environment, so it is important to investigate about it. Here you will find different ecological and economic activities to do outdoors.
• Observation: In the natural environment it is advisable to pay attention to the different elements that compose it. To facilitate this task, you can read about the characteristics of the place before visiting it, to know in advance what you should look for and have some information. Another activity to develop naturalistic intelligence is to make a record of the observations and keep a field journal, including photos or drawings, if you enjoy photography or painting.
• Use of instruments: To complement the excursions to the natural environment you can make use of magnifying glasses, microscopes or telescopes. These will also help you in the classification of the elements you find, being another exercise to enhance naturalistic intelligence.
• Daily activities: Try doing some activity that you enjoy, such as reading or practicing relaxation or sports, but in a different environment than you are used to and that is more natural. In this way you will make an approach to nature, you will be aware of the differences from one environment to another and you will observe how they affect the performance of this task.
• Learn: Currently there is a large number of documentaries, magazines, blogs and web pages that address different aspects of the natural world; animals, space, natural environments, etc. One of the possible activities to develop naturalistic intelligence is to analyze on what topic would you like to learn more or are curious and seek more information about it through some resource.
• Visits: Another useful exercise is to visit botanical gardens, natural history museums, parks, nature centers, etc.
• Appreciate nature: To develop naturalistic intelligence, be aware of natural environments, when visit, stop to enjoy the little sensations that they produce in you paying attention to all the senses.
• Excursions: To appreciate nature more, a getaway or excursion may be a good option. In addition, you can perform exercises that are rewarding for you such as hiking, canoeing, caving, etc. Another option of activities to develop naturalistic intelligence is to visit natural parks or take guided routes, in which the expert person make explanations about the environment, and on some occasions activities are even included as a complement to the information.
• Be aware: consciously reflects on nature, the changes it has undergone in recent years and the impact of human beings on this wear and tear. Find out about the consequences of climate change, the extinction of species and the destruction of natural resources.
• Takes care: Another activity to develop naturalistic intelligence can be to have plants or animals at home, just if you are able to take responsibility for them. You can also plant some food or if you have space create a small garden.

With this multiple intelligences test you will be able to discover which is the intelligence that stands out in you among the 8 intelligence of Howard Gardner:

• Linguistic Intelligence
• Logical Intelligence - Mathematics
• Visual Intelligence - Spatial
• Kinesthetic or Body-kinetic Intelligence
• Musical intelligence
• Interpersonal intelligence
• Intrapersonal intelligence
• Naturalistic Intelligence

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.

If you want to read more articles similar to Naturalistic intelligence: what it is, characteristics, examples and activities, we recommend that you enter our category of Cognitive psychology.

• Dickenson, D., Campbell, L., & Campbell, B. (2000). Multiple intelligences. Practical uses for teaching and learning. Troquel, Buenos Aires, 11-13.
• Gardner, H. (1998). A Reply to Perry D. Klein's "Multiplying the Problems of Intelligence by Eight". Canadian Journal of Education / Revue canadienne de l'éducation, 23(1), 96-102.
• Sandoval, A., González, L., González, O., & Lauretti, P. (2013). Naturalistic and existential intelligence: a contribution to emotional development and well-being. Multiciences, 13(3), 290-298.