Page 76 - Biblical Counseling II

can be intelligent in many different ways. Take a look at the following chart, which explains Gardner’s theory
on eight types of intelligence:

(photo: pinterest.com)

As you look at the chart, which types of intelligence are your strengths? For me, I have interpersonal
intelligence, verbal/linguistic intelligence, and intrapersonal intelligence. It makes sense that I was drawn to a
career as a counselor with these as my strengths. What are yours? How do they apply to who you are today
and what you hope to do after university?

Nature and Nurture
“Intelligence runs in families. But why? Are our intellectual abilities mostly inherited? Or are they molded by
our environment? Few issues in psychology arouse so much interest. Let’s look at some of the evidence:
Does sharing the same genes also mean sharing the same mental abilities? The answer is yes. Identical twins
who grow up together have intelligence test scores nearly as similar as those of the same person taking the
same test twice! Even when identical twins are adopted by two different families, their scores are very
similar. Genes matter” (Myers, p. 226, 2012).

“But shared environment matters, too. Fraternal twins, who are genetically no more alike than any other
siblings – but who are treated more alike because they are the same age – tend to score more alike than
other siblings. And studies show that adoption of mistreated or neglected children enhances their
intelligence scores (new environment, intelligence increases). So, should we expect biologically unrelated
children adopted into the same family to share similar aptitudes?” (Myers, p. 227, 2012) For example, should
my adopted sister score about the same as my biological siblings on intelligence tests?

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