Self Confidence And Multiple Intelligences

Self Confidence and Multiple Intelligences

There is a learning theory that most people outside of the area of education never hear about. Created by Dr. Howard Gardner, it is called the theory of multiple intelligences. The idea behind the theory is that there are eight forms of "intelligence" and that everyone has strong and weak areas within these intelligences.

Those who have verbal/linguistic intelligence are adept at dealing with the written and spoken word.

People with musical intelligence best learn and express themselves through music, rhythm and dance.

Logical/mathematical intelligence is evident in number and computational skills.

Patterns and logic come easily to these learners.

Those with visual/spatial intelligence have an excellent perception of their location and/or orientation in regards to other objects and show keen visual awareness.

Body/kinesthetic intelligence leads to excellence in the areas of coordination and physical activity.

A person with intrapersonal intelligence is self-aware and reflective. Interpersonal intelligence allows for good communication and working well with others.

People who display naturalist intelligence are at their finest when observing nature and trying to reach understandings of their observations.

Therefore, this is fine to tell a bunch of teachers, but what does it have to do with everyday life and especially self-confidence? The foundation of adult self-confidence is created at an early age. What if you spent your entire school life feeling like you couldn't measure up? That you were never good at the things your teachers asked you to do. It's easy to see how such feelings could leave someone with low self-confidence that could stay with them later in life.

Most school assignments and standardized tests are set up to reward students with verbal/linguistic skills. Intrapersonal skills come into play when teachers ask students to reflect on an experience, often resulting in a writing prompt like, "Write about a time when you"¦" Interpersonal skills are useful for group work, but with the wrong teacher, you may never get a chance to display those skills while filling out worksheets at your desk. Some intelligences would be useful in specific classes, such as body/kinesthetic abilities in gym class. But try to use those skills when it's time to read a story, and you'll probably get sent to the principal's office.

In work and at home, having the wrong skills for a particular situation can be just as damaging. If you're asked to take an important client out for lunch, but your interpersonal skills are lacking, you're likely to get in trouble with your boss later. If you take your kids for a walk and get lost because you have low visual/spatial intelligence, then you're likely to feel like a bad parent.

You'll feel much better in these and similar situations if you can take a step back and realize that you weren't being asked to use your best skills. Maybe you should have stayed at the office and written a stellar report that made the best of your verbal/linguistic skills. Maybe you should have taken your kids dancing instead because you could have called on your musical intelligence.

Teachers who are aware of the impact of multiple intelligences try to use this knowledge to foster self confidence in their students. They offer assignment options whenever possible and design activities that allow everyone to find success while also developing skills in their problem areas.

You don't have to be in school to take to heart the lessons of multiple intelligences. Find your skills and capitalize on them. If you're doing what you're best at, your self-confidence will soar. You can most likely figure out your strongest intelligences just from reading the list of characteristics, but if you'd like a more objective opinion, a quick search online turns up numerous tests.

They're most likely not scientifically calibrated personality tests, but they can be useful as a baseline reading and food for thought. Just because you have a natural ability in certain intelligences, it doesn't mean that you can't develop yourself in other areas. Learning new skills and improving yourself are also surefire confidence boosters.

The next time you have trouble at work or home, before you let your self-confidence drop; consider whether you are utilizing your natural intelligence to make the most of your strongest skills.