Intelligence and Human Abilities - 9781848720671

Intelligence and Abilities explores how and why humans differ in how well they can solve problems. The book considers how research from the past 100 years bears on several key debates about human abilities:

• The definitions of ‘ability’ and ‘intelligence’
• How many distinct abilities are there and how do they interrelate?
• Are tests of abstract reasoning useful? Are everyday-problem solving skills and emotional intelligence more important?
• What factors explain why people vary in their ability to solve problems?

The book also reviews a wide range of evidence examining links between abilities and health, education, and performance in the workplace, examining how and why scores on ability tests are related to performance at school and work.

The second edition of Intelligence and Abilities provides a clear, engaging and up-to-date evaluation of what the empirical evidence tells us about the number, nature and origins of human abilities. It will be essential reading for students and practitioners of psychology and education, and also for users of ability tests such as applied psychologists and personnel managers.