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Adaptive Intelligence: Intelligence Is Not a Personal Trait but Rather a Person × Task × Situation Interaction.

Robert J Sternberg¹

¹Department of Psychology, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.

Journal of Intelligence

|December 23, 2021

Summary

Intelligence is not fixed but emerges from person-task-situation interactions. Understanding situational influences is key for accurate intelligence assessment and interpretation of cognitive abilities.

Keywords:

intelligence interaction person situation task

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Psychometrics

Background:

Traditional views often treat intelligence as a fixed individual trait.
This perspective overlooks the dynamic interplay between individuals and their environments.
Situational factors significantly influence cognitive performance and behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore intelligence as a person × task × situation interaction.
To highlight the role of situations in intelligent behavior, learning, and competencies.
To re-evaluate the interpretation of conventional intelligence test results.

Main Methods:

Conceptual analysis of intelligence theories.
Review of literature on situational influences in cognition.
Discussion of assessment challenges related to situations.

Main Results:

Intelligence shares similarities with creativity and wisdom due to situational roles.
Situations impact identity-based, irrational, and conspiratorial thinking.
Situational assessment is crucial but difficult to standardize.

Conclusions:

Viewing intelligence as a dynamic interaction is advantageous.
Current intelligence tests may overestimate trait-based interpretations.
Greater modesty is needed when interpreting results from conventional intelligence tests.