Nonverbal Assessment of Intelligence

For hundreds of years, psychologists, sociologists, geneticists, and educators have attempted to define the term intelligence. Although there is no single definition of the word, many agree that intelligence comprises a variety of abilities, including abstract thinking, problem-solving ability, mental speed, and more. Contemporary views of intelligence tend to center on the g factor, also thought of as general mental ability involved in higher order thought and processing. This entry further describes intelligence tests and their history, then looks at the history, purpose, and utility of nonverbal assessments of intelligence. The entry also provides a summary of some of the most popular nonverbal assessments and discusses how nonverbal testing procedures are similar to and different from standard, verbal assessments.