| Abstract: | This article proposes a definition of intelligence as comprising the mental abilities necessary for adaptation to, as well as selection and shaping of, any environmental context. According to this definition, although the behavior that is labeled as intelligent may differ from 1 environmental context to another, the mental processes underlying this behavior do not. An individual's ability to apply these processes may differ from 1 context to another, however. The abilities are applied to achieve external correspondence to the world and internal coherence among various knowledge and belief structures. The relevance of the definition for understanding current theories, testing in the field of intelligence, as well as for understanding the role of intelligence in lifelong learning is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
