Question

Describe the two-factor theory of intelligence.

Hint:

To remember Spearman's theory, think of 'g' for {G}eneral (a single, broad intelligence) and 's' for {S}pecific (many individual skills). Every task uses a bit of 'g' and a relevant 's'.

Answer 1

The two-factor theory of intelligence was proposed by British psychologist Charles Spearman in the early 20th century. After analyzing performance on various mental aptitude tests, he concluded that intelligence is composed of two main factors:

The 'g' factor (General Intelligence): Spearman observed that individuals who performed well on one type of cognitive test tended to perform well on other types of tests as well. He proposed that this was due to a single, underlying general mental ability, which he called the 'g' factor. This 'g' factor represents a broad intellectual capacity that influences performance across all cognitive tasks, such as reasoning, problem-solving, and abstract thinking.

The 's' factor (Specific Abilities): Spearman also recognized that performance on any given task was not solely determined by the 'g' factor. He proposed the existence of 's' factors, which represent specific abilities or skills that are unique to a particular task. For example, a person might have 's' factors for mathematical skills, verbal fluency, spatial reasoning, or musical talent.
According to this theory, a person's performance on any intellectual task is a combination of their general intelligence ('g') and their specific ability ('s') in that particular area.