Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Fluid intelligence refers to the ability to think logically and solve problems in novel situations, independent of acquired knowledge or past experience. It involves skills such as abstract reasoning, problem-solving, and pattern recognition.
Related terms
Crystallized Intelligence: Crystallized intelligence is the accumulation of knowledge, facts, and information that a person has acquired throughout their life. It includes language skills, vocabulary, and general knowledge.
Executive Functioning: Executive functioning refers to a set of cognitive processes that help individuals plan, organize, initiate tasks, control impulses, self-monitor their behaviors and emotions, and make decisions.
Working memory is a temporary storage system that allows us to hold information in our mind while actively manipulating it for various mental tasks. It plays a crucial role in problem-solving and decision-making processes.