Intrapersonal Intelligence

MAY 5, 2014 BY JESAMINE

Intrapersonal intelligence is one of the

seven categories of intelligence in the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. The
conventional, biased and soon to be obsolete definition, of intelligence is
based on an aptitude in a very specific set of skills, in particular, verbal fluency,
computational and mathematical proficiency, and logical/analytical ability.
Measurement of only these particular skills was standardized into the highly
popular Intelligence Test, something which was used to predict a persons future
educational achievement, job performance, and income potential. A theory of
multiple intelligences is a theory which helps uslearn the art of whole brain
thinking, something which maximizes our brains full potential.
Carl Jung was one of the first psychologists to recognize and write extensively
about the limitations of an intelligence measurement which focused only on the
above-mentioned skill-set, a skill-set he would have attributed to
the thinkingtype. In his book Psychological Types, he outlined three other types,
namely, feeling, sensation, and intuitive types. In more recent times, a new theory
of intelligence came to light through the writing and work of the world renowned
developmental psychologist, Howard Earl Gardner. In his book, Frames of
Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, Gardner, formally recognizing the
limitations rigidly defining intelligence, defines it with a much broader stroke.
Intelligence is
the human ability to solve problems or to make something that is valued in one or more
cultures. As long as we can find a culture that values an ability to solve a problem or create
a product in a particular way, then I would strongly consider whether that ability should
be considered an intelligence.

After studying many effective and distinctly different personality types across
cultures, Gardner finally delineated eight different types of intelligence. Before we
explore the depths of the intrapersonal type, lets briefly look at the other types.
In order to become more whole, it is important for us to develop as many of these
intelligences as possible.

Multiple Intelligence Categories

Linguistic Intelligence
The ability to express oneself with such clarity that others can comprehend and
relate to them. William Shakespeare and Abraham Lincoln are two examples.
Logical and Mathematical Intelligence
The ability for working with numbers, logical concepts, and abstract analysis.
These are the physicists, computer programmers, and mathematicians, such as
Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs. If we want to increase our aptitude in
this area, it is important that we learn to develop critical thinking skills.
Spatial/Visual Intelligence
Those with visual intelligence have an ability to see and represent the world using
concepts such as shape, color, and form. Those with spatial intelligence
understand the effects of manipulating the spatial dimension, such as a chess
player who can see 10 moves ahead or a person who can solve a Rubiks Cube in
two minutes. Visual artists of all kinds are also in this category. To develop this
skill, we can take a course in drawing.
Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
These people have highly developed motor skills, such as dancers, athletes,
sculptors, or even surgeons. If you want to develop this aspect of yourself, do
something sexy and fun with your partner like learning how to salsa dance!
Musical Intelligence
Someone with this kind of intelligence has the capacity to think and feel in terms
of sound and rhythm. You can develop an ear for music by learning some
basic music theory. You will never hear music the same again.
Interpersonal Intelligence
A person with this intelligence has a keen ability to relate to others as individuals.
People in this category are teachers and counselors, or someone like Oprah
Winfrey. To develop this skill, you have to know how to communicate
effectively.
Naturalistic Intelligence
People in this category have an ability to perceive and classify the intricate
patterns in the world around them. Scientists, botanists, and biologists would fall
into this realm of intelligence. To see more deeply into the intricate world of
nature, you can take an online biology course.

Intrapersonal Intelligence
Intrapersonal intelligence reflects a persons innate ability to understand his or
her inner world, a world from which many people are entirely disconnected. The
core characteristics of a person with a highly developed intrapersonal intelligence
are affective awareness, ethical awareness, self-regulation, and metacognition.
Affective Awareness
Affective awareness is the knowledge of your feelings, attitudes, and outlook.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, an affect is
the conscious subjective aspect of an emotion considered apart from bodily changes; also:
a set of observable manifestations of a subjectively experienced emotion.

An affect is the psychic derivative of an emotion. It is how you experience an

emotion as it emerges, or violently thrusts itself, into your awareness. Think of
someone who gets angry about something and then flies off the handle and acts
on that emotion without even thinking about it. This person may reflect on that
later, asking himself, Why did I get so upset? If so, he has the potential to
develop affective awareness. If that person does not reflect, he may stay angry,
finding all kinds of ways to justify his reaction.
A person with intrapersonal intelligence would react differently to the experience
of anger. In the best case scenario, he would first experience anger as an emotion
and before acting, would internally notice, I am feeling anger. This nanosecond of awareness is just enough time to keep that person from responding to
the situation with anger. How does a person with intrapersonal intelligence do
this? The answer is through a natural tendency toward introspection, and
activities which promote self-reflection.

Introspection
Introspection is the deliberate act of looking inward in order to gain insight into
the nature of ones own thoughts or feelings. An introspective person wants to
understand why he or she thinks, feel,s or acts in a certain way, not as a means of
justification, but rather as a means to better understand what might be working
behind the scenes. If he or she uncovers jealousy or envy, then that will further
be explored. Where does the jealousy come from? Why am I envious? If fear is
discovered, then he or she will want to go to the roots of that fear in order to find
out where it started. A person who has explored his or her inner depths in such a
way develops an entirely different level of ethical awareness, one that goes far
beyond the simplicity of a conventional ethical system.

Self-regulation and Metacognition

Two other core characteristics which emerge out of this tendency toward
introspection are self-regulation and metacognition. Behaviorally speaking, selfregulation underlies our ability to act in our long-term best interest, not in an
egotistical way, but rather in a way that is consistent with our deepest values.
Again, we obtain knowledge of those values only through self-reflection. When
we violate our deepest values, we experience guilt, shame, and anxiety, our
natural, ethical barometers.
Emotionally speaking, self-regulation is related to our ability to calm
ourselves down in a heated moment, so that we do not act in the passion of
an overwhelming emotion. This does not mean that we suppress emotions, but
rather that we can experience them without identifying ourselves with them, a
skill which requires a subtle, but potent shift in awareness. Self-regulation is the
ability to say, I know that I am angry instead of unconsciously identifying with
the anger.
Along with the capacity for emotional regulation, comes a high level of emotional
awareness. Emotional awareness allows a person to authentically express and
communicate feelings to others in a way that is not as highly charged as someone
who is emotionally unaware or unregulated.
Through introspection, one also gains an awareness of ones strengths and
weaknesses. This kind of awareness allows a person to make more appropriate
choices in their lives. He or she can act on the opportunities for which they are
best suited. An awareness of limitations keeps a person from trying to do
something for which they are not compatible. In addition, awareness of ones
limitations can show a person where he or she possibly needs to develop.
Metacognition is another unique capability of intrapersonal intelligence.
According to the dictionary, metacognition is what enables understanding,
analysis, and control of ones cognitive processes, especially when engaged in
learning. In the learning process, it is an awareness of how you think and what
strategies you are using to approach a task. According to a research review by
Susan Imel (ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education,
2002), metacognitive skills are divided into two types:
self-assessment (the ability to assess ones own cognition) and self-management (the
ability to manage ones further cognitive development) (Rivers 2001).

How to Stimulate Intrapersonal Intelligence

If you have recognized a particular weakness in this area of intelligence, there are
things you can do to stimulate intrapersonal intelligence. Intrapersonal
intelligence is ultimately about having a high level of self-awareness. In order to
attain self-awareness, you have to be able to self-reflect that is to look at and
understand why you do what you do, think what you think, and feel what you feel.

Journaling is a highly effective method for self-reflection. Learning to journal

effectively will help increase your self-awareness. You can use the old-fashion
method of writing it down or you can use a voice recorder. If you do use a voice
recorder, it is best if you take some time daily to transcribe your recordings into a
journal or onto your computer. In your journal, you simply write about whatever
you are feeling. If you see something that affects you, whether it is a mother and
child on the street or a couple in an intense argument, note how you are feeling
about that. If someone says or does something that upsets you, write that down.
This forces you to become aware of how you are internally affected by the world
around you.
The more you journal, the more you start to see patterns in your behavior. For
example, do you become overly upset when someone disagrees with you? How do
you feel when someone compliments you? Note especially those times when you
feel strong emotions, such as love, fear, anger, or anxiety. Once you have noticed
patterns, you can start to reflect on those patterns. When do you first remember
feeling that way? Can you make a connection between a previous experience and
how you feel today?
Another, scientifically-proven, way to increase self-awareness is through
meditation. Through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), contemplative
neuroscience has been able to show a relationship between meditation and
increased grey matter in all areas in our brain that are associated with higher
thinking and enhanced levels of awareness, in particular: the frontal cortex,
which is associated with executive decision-making; the left hippocampus,
associated with learning and emotion regulation; and the temporal-parietal
junction, which is related to perspective-taking and compassion.
Simply establishing a practice of daily meditation can increase your
intrapersonal intelligence, meaning that it is setting up your brain to make you
more aware, to be more reflective, to make better-informed decisions, and to be
able to see with a much broader perspective. Now, when you add to those effects
of meditation, conscious self-reflection, you will start to take leaps and bounds in
enhancing your intrapersonal intelligence. Through your enhanced executive
decision-making ability and self-reflection, you will be more naturally inclined to
consider your strengths and weaknesses in every big decision. With better
emotional awareness and regulation, you will not act on heated emotions, but
instead, step back and notice your mood. If you have ever acted rashly due to
uncontrolled emotions, then you already know the benefits of learning to regulate
them.
The theory of multiple intelligences does not have to compartmentalize us in the
one area where we show competency, but rather a theory of multiple intelligences
can open the door for us to develop other areas of our brain, and thus, give us
opportunities to experience our lives in new and exciting ways.