Howard Gardner´s Multiple Intelligences

Howard Gardner states that humans possess a myriad of multiple intelligences which include but are not limited to linguistic, logical-mathematical, body-kinesthetic, spacial, interpersonal, intrapersonal, musical and naturalistic. However, often in society and common education, we only test one ´general intelligence´ only focusing on examining cognitive abilities.

Linguistic: Linguistic learners find ease in learning new languages, listening to music in other languages and often engage in different aspects of their own native language such as writing, spoken poetry, singing, and reading various literature. Similarly, translators, language teachers, and even cultural ambassadors could potentially learn well through this mode by finding excitement while engaging with another culture and a foreign language.

Logical-mathematical: These pragmatic learners find themselves deeply interested in solving mathematical problems as well as logical challenges. Lawyers, Math professors and researchers, engineers, many scientists and even architects fall under this category.

Body-Kinesthetic: Through a variety of types of physical movement and hands-on learning, these ´physical learners´, as we could call them, learn by doing. They love to learn HOW to do their job, by doing it, with minimal or little previous study. However, many creative types can fall under this category as well, such as dancers, trapeze artistic, acrobats, gymnasts, athletes and other types of physical expression, would be considered ¨body-kinesthetic¨.

Spacial: Similarly to above, Spacial learners learn by the space around them, as well as the space they take up. However, both architects and engineers could be known as Spacial learners. Similarly, surgeons, dentists, and other medical professions are engaged with working with space and learn well by using this mode to learn. Athletes, Miners, Designers and a variety of many other types of professions can be considered Spacial Learners. Even farmers may fall under this category due to their work with land and space.

Interpersonal: Interpersonal learners are attracted to looking inward and analyzing their own lives. They look to their experiences to make sense of their world and can often connect the best with others by first going inward to understand their experience alone before engaging with another. These are often artists, psychologists, therapists, yoga instructor, writers, musicians and even teachers. Scientists could even learn well by practicing and using this intelligence.

Intrapersonal: Intrapersonal learners learn by communicating with others. They love to debate or talk out difficult problems until they feel like they’ve found a solid solution. These learns may learn from solving word problems in math or even learn by other types of learning skills, like through music. Often times these types of people end up being professors, psychologists, therapists, coaches, or nurses.

Musical: As we can imagine, these learners comprehend the best through music. This can manifest as people needing to listen to music to study or even to read text. These professions can include but are not limited to musical conductors, musicians, writers, dancers, DJs and many other similar types of jobs. Similarly, these creative learners understand their content through sound waves. When the brain hears sound waves in a creative and seductive way, the brain has a much easier time absorbing the content and storing it in the memory. Musical leaners typically have some of the highest IQ´s on the planet.

Naturalistic: The last official category of the intelligences comprehends best in nature. These people love immersing themselves outside, most often alone, learning about the world through the natural world around them. They are typically biologists, foresters, fisherman or hunters, but we must include veterinarians as well, animal caretakers and/or activists, researchers, and many more similar types of professions.

With all of this in mind, we must ask ourselves, how do we personally learn best? What are our individual skills and how do we best find ourselves engaged in learning? Do you enjoy learning about nature, outside, with your hands deep in the soil, searching for living creatures? Or do you find yourself learning while listening to a piece of music? Or maybe both, simultaneously? Or maybe you love to solve a puzzle, any kind of puzzle, whether tangible or not? Or maybe you enjoy a good riddle?

Some of us find ourselves easily adaptable to spacial change and can control our bodies in ways others cannot. Others can communicate in a variety of languages, the words falling off their tongue, as if being fed the words by an encyclopedia through headphones.

We are all skilled in different ways, but the key is to understand our own learning and the different types, so we can use these skills to our advantage while also enjoying our learning process.

Below is the link to another article for further research and learning.

Bibliography:

https://www.simplypsychology.org/multiple-intelligences.html, Michelle Merenus, March 26, 2025.