Charles Spearman
Definition
Charles Spearman was a British psychologist who pioneered the theory of general intelligence, often symbolized as 'g'. He proposed that this 'g' factor is responsible for overall intellectual functioning and cognitive abilities.
Analogy
Think of Charles Spearman's 'g' factor like the engine in a car. Just as an engine powers all functions of a car, the 'g' factor powers all cognitive abilities in humans.
Related terms
Intelligence Quotient (IQ): A numerical measure of a person's intelligence, determined by various standardized tests.
Two-Factor Theory of Intelligence: This is Spearman's theory which suggests that every task requires a combination of a general ability ('g') and skills specific to the task ('s').
Cognitive Abilities: These are brain-based skills we need to carry out any task from the simplest to the most complex. They include aspects such as learning, thinking, problem-solving, memory, and attention.
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