Crystallized intelligence is a type of cognitive functioning that is executed from the previous knowledge that the person has accumulated from their past life experiences. It is not totally independent of fluid intelligence, which is the one that works to solve new problems, since both types of intelligence continuously interact, but in psychology they are separated as two types of intelligence different.
In the following Psychology-Online article, we are going to talk about what is crystallized intelligence and we will present some examples about this type of intelligence and how to improve it with different practical exercises.
Crystallized intelligence is the type of intelligence derived from set of learning and experiences that the person has acquired and internalized in his life. It is an intelligence that works on previous learning and, based on them, works in one way or another.
From the learning acquired throughout life, each person elaborates and develops certain capacities, skills and strategies that will allow you to continue delving into your life learning and that will constitute the so-called intelligence crystallized.
By definition, it is a flexible, adaptive and constantly renewed intelligence that is nurtured with each new learning that the person carries out. In this way, before each new cognitive acquisition, the crystallized intelligence is molded and perfected, adapting to the new conglomerate of learning carried out.
If we take into account the above, sociocultural aspects will largely determine the development of crystallized intelligence. Therefore, this will be conditioned by the following factors:
- Economic level of the family.
- Education level.
- Own motivations.
- Interests that prevail in the family, educational and socio-community context.
Difference Between Crystallized and Fluid Intelligence
Fluid intelligence is what allows you to adapt to any situation and solve problems as they arise. In relation to crystallized intelligence, it should be noted that both interact permanently.
On the one hand, fluid intelligence allows new problems to be solved and stores that information in memory. Later, this will be used by the crystallized intelligence. On the other hand, a higher quality of crystallized intelligence, that is, a greater or more varied accumulated experience, will allow a better functioning of fluid intelligence, since it will have more resources to resolve the new situations that arise present.
Specifically, crystallized intelligence measures cognitive abilities, skills, and strategies that are acquired and perfected through learning. Above all, it is based on the previous baggage acquired.
If we take into account that this type of intelligence is conditioned by the sociocultural context in which the people, it is normal to find differences in the functioning and use of crystallized intelligence between different cultures. Let's look at an example to understand it better:
A European person raised in a Western capitalist society will not have the same functioning as an Australian aborigine. However, and quite contrary to what might be believed from the classical approaches to measuring the IQ, the functioning of crystallized intelligence in both people will present qualitative differences in terms of the type of processing and use of said intelligence. intelligence. Even so, it will not be relevant in terms of differences in the degree of intelligence that each of them presents.
There are different ways to enhance crystallized intelligence. Next, we offer 4 simple exercises that will allow us to increase the quality of this type of intelligence:
- Read a variety of information from different sources: reading different contents, and raised from different perspectives, contributes to enlarging our vision of the world and of life. At the same time, reading improves language and, with it, favors a better understanding of the world, relationships and social functioning. In this sense, we recommend these psychology books that will change your life.
- live experiences: having an active life in which varied experiences occur nurtures knowledge of things, people and the world. With this, it improves our store of knowledge and experiences on which crystallized intelligence works.
- Work on self-knowledge and inner listening: many of the vital learnings that we acquire and that help us to deepen our learning come from self-knowledge and inner listening. Expanding this ability will improve our crystallized intelligence.
- Develop external observation to appreciate small details: life, nature, human complexity is so wide and complex that, the more we develop the observation and appreciation of small details, the more knowledge we will acquire about subtle manifestations of life. With this we will improve our crystallized intelligence.
There are multiple examples of crystallized intelligence. Next, we will present some of them.
- All kinds of automated activities.
- Writing texts or books.
- Oral presentations. In this context these will come in handy Public speaking techniques.
- Use of devices and technologies.
- Carrying out housework, work and a good part of the educational ones.
All these examples, among many others, require actions based on prior knowledge that come from crystallized 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.
