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Merritt, you have your own distinct brand of smart. As a result, you're likely more geared toward some types of intelligence than others. The important thing to remember is that the scores you receive below are an indication of where you stand today. Everyone possesses the capacity to improve and change. To help you do just that, Tickle's experts have provided a series of action steps in each section below to help you fulfill your potential. But first, let's examine what you're best at. Your greatest strength is Visual/Spatial Intelligence. You scored a 10 out of 10. This means that you scored above 100% of the others who took this test. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 What is visual/spatial intelligence? People with visual/spatial intelligence have the interesting ability of being able to form high-quality mental images and even manipulate those pictures to form new things. Visual/spatial abilities can include being able to visualize accurate representations of existing objects and having the skill to imagine detailed original designs or scenes. In the career world, this can make visual/spatial types great at everything from mechanical engineering to interior design. People with this intelligence typically have a high level of attention to detail and are well in touch with their surroundings. As a result, visually/spatially intelligent people can make great hunters because they tend to notice even small changes in their physical environment — a key when tracking prey. They're also the kinds of individuals you'd want in control of the map on a road trip. Visual/spatial intelligence can make people great with directions. In addition, people with strong visual/spatial intelligence typically love aesthetics. They can usually find beauty in both manmade and natural things. Appreciating a sunset, noticing how patterns and colors fit together to make a great outfit, and having at least a passing knowledge of architecture and design are all different ways that their love of beauty can manifest. People who use this type of intelligence tend to think in pictures rather than numbers or words. As a result, those who score relatively high on visual/spatial intelligence are better at learning concepts when seeing charts, pictures, or diagrams rather than hearing a lecture. Overall, using this type of intelligence can enrich your life because it requires a vivid imagination. Indeed, by forming creative mental images and really seeing the things around you, you can make the world a more wondrous place. The activities below are designed to help you to exercise your spatial skills and further advance your imagination and visual abilities. Each task focuses on a different aspect of visual/spatial intelligence. Begin with something basic. Then challenge yourself to expand your talents even more. Start small Try rearranging the furniture in one room of your house. Begin by visualizing how the new layout will look, draw it, and then move things around to see how you like the new look. When walking or driving to a familiar destination, take a new route to familiarize yourself with different paths and how they fit together. Listen to classical music; it's known to increase visual/spatial skills. Challenge yourself Next time you need to learn or teach a new concept, try creating a graph or a diagram to convey the information. Check out your local college or community center to sign up for a class in photography, sculpting, or drawing to explore your visual creativity. Either take an orienteering class or learn to master using a compass and your surroundings so that you can hike on your own. It will help you become more attuned to your surroundings. Your multiple intelligences report Your greatest strength Your complete intelligence profile History behind the test Reading list Visual/ Spatial Logical/ Mathematical Social Linguistic Personal Physical Visual/spatial intelligence (aka "picture smarts") This trait involves accurately forming mental pictures and being able to interpret the physical world. Logical/mathematical intelligence (aka "reasoning/numbers smarts") This trait involves higher-order thinking through abstract and numerical reasoning. Social intelligence (aka "people smarts") This trait centers on successfully decoding interpersonal cues to respond to others with empathy. Linguistic intelligence (aka "word smarts) This means clearly expressing thoughts and feelings in written or oral form. Personal intelligence (aka "self smarts") This means being in tune with your inner self through exploring your feelings, values, and ideas. Physical intelligence (aka "body smarts) This trait involves the ability to control and direct body movements for achievement or expression. Most everyone has at least some degree of each of these six types of intelligence. Yet it's also true that almost no one uses any one kind of intelligence to its fullest potential. Most of us take advantage of certain aspects of an intelligence we have but don't explore its other benefits. As you read the sections below, notice the ways you're actively using your intelligences today and the ways you can expand them in the future. The Take Action sections will help you get started. Before looking at the details of your remaining intelligences, you might want to know how we generated this summary of your skills. While you were answering the test questions, we measured your intelligence level in six distinct areas: linguistic, logical/mathematical, personal, physical, social, and visual/spatial. As you look at your multiple intelligences profile, you may notice that you can receive the same score on more than one of your intelligences. Don't worry, that's very common. If some of the intelligences share the same score, it simply means that you're equally good at all of those skills. Here's how your intelligences profile is ranked. First, we calculated your overall score for each intelligence. The higher the score, the higher it is ranked in your intelligences profile. If you receive the same score on more than one type of intelligence, our researchers then looked at how difficult it is for people to get high scores on those different areas. They then ranked those competing intelligences in order of difficulty. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Logical/Mathematical Intelligence You scored a 10 out of 10 on Logical/Mathematical Intelligence. This means that you scored above 100% of the others who took this test. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 What is logical/mathematical intelligence? People with a high level of logical/mathematical intelligence are generally great problem solvers who are able to both think critically and analyze data. Individuals who have this intelligence also tend to see the world as a logical place. This is probably true because they're usually so skilled at picking up the patterns all around them. Whether it's a scientist noticing a repeated behavior in one of her subjects or a mathematician using patterns of numbers to solve a theorem, this type of intelligence can be extremely handy in intellectual pursuits. However, there are also plenty of everyday uses for logical/mathematical intelligence. For example, whether you're reading the financial pages or the sports section, the newspaper is typically filled with data and statistics for you to interpret. Indeed, it's hard to grasp the complexities of important scientific, social, economic, or political issues if you can't understand the information given. Life is also filled with plenty of opportunities to use applied math. Balancing your checkbook, bargain shopping, and even gambling demand some level of logical/mathematical intelligence. When it comes to money, people who are logically/mathematically intelligent typically have the benefit of being better able to manage their own finances. They also have a leg up on understanding the factors that affect their investments. As learners, people who are strong in this type of intelligence comprehend things most effectively through trial and error rather than through verbal instruction or visual diagrams. In particular, if given a problem to solve, logical/mathematical people will usually prefer to test out solutions themselves rather than to be told or shown what the right answer is. Moreover, people who use this intelligence can be stronger than most other people are at weighing the merits of different arguments. By looking at facts critically, these individuals are good at forming their own conclusions — an ability that can make them great business leaders and first-rate independent thinkers. Your above-average score indicates that you already use this intelligence effectively in your life. As a result, Tickle has provided you with some ways to improve your intelligence so that you reach the top of your ability. The following action steps will help you to increase your familiarity and adeptness with numbers and scientific concepts. They'll do this by helping you focus on topics that probably aren't typically part of your life, as well as by working math into your daily routine. Start small Buy or borrow a high school math textbook — anything from algebra to geometry or trigonometry — and reacquaint yourself with concepts that you might not have fully understood the first time around. If you're not already a regular viewer, try to spend a couple hours a week watching scientific programming on the Discovery Channel, the Learning Channel, or PBS. By watching programs that talk about scientific concepts and explain different discoveries, you can improve your logic and deductive reasoning capabilities. Make it a priority to visit science and technology museums on occasion to better understand the concepts that underpin both scientific advancements and the natural world. Challenge yourself Read about a mathematical or scientific concept and then teach it to someone else less knowledgeable than you are. Learn a computer programming language such as BASIC, C, or PASCAL. Picking up one of these languages is not only a marketable job skill, but it can also help you hone your logical and pattern recognition abilities. Subscribe to a popular science journal such as Science, Psychology Today, Omni, or Scientific American to keep up with the latest discoveries and research. Your multiple intelligences report Your greatest strength Your complete intelligence profile History behind the test Reading list -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Social Intelligence You scored a 10 out of 10 on Social Intelligence. This means that you scored above 100% of the others who took this test. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 What is social intelligence? Social intelligence refers to the ability to read other people and understand their intentions and motivations. People with this intelligence are usually clued in to the differences between what others say and what they really mean. As a result, socially intelligent types may sometimes be accused of being mind readers. People who successfully use this type of intelligence can be masterful conversationalists. This can be due to a combination of excellent listening skills and the ability to meaningfully engage others. People who are socially intelligent can usually make the people around them feel comfortable and included. They also tend to enjoy interacting with a variety of people. Other valuable skills that can come along with social intelligence are the ability to assert one's own needs, effective conflict resolution skills, and the gift of being able to solve most problems in a cooperative fashion. By being able to key in on others' needs — sometimes more clearly than those people can themselves — socially intelligent individuals can be highly perceptive. This trait can be a great boon in business as well as in personal matters. Because they often feed off their relationships with others, if social types find themselves without a romantic partner, close family, or a circle of friends to share their life with, monetary and academic successes can lose their luster. When it comes to understanding the mindset of many socially intelligent people, Ralph Waldo Emerson may have said it best: "To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success." There's evidence that working to optimize social intelligence can even be beneficial to your health. It's been shown that lonely individuals are highly susceptible to depression and a variety of other mental and physical ailments. So by developing a close social network and learning to be emotionally available and depend on others, you can be not just happier but healthier, too. Although you appear to have a solid grasp on your people skills, the following activities can help you hone them even further. Because you've probably noticed that social intelligence is something that can produce dramatic results, Tickle's team has provided a variety of both basic and challenging ways you can kick your social intelligence up a notch. Start small The next time you're at an airport or in the lobby of a building, take some time to people watch. In studying people's behaviors you can improve your "people perception." As you notice people relating, ask yourself the following questions: (a) What is the relationship between the people speaking to one another? (b) What emotions are people experiencing? (c) What sorts of nonverbal gestures are being displayed, and what do these gestures mean? By coming to understand others movements, speech, and expressions, you can really become a great reader of people's moods and intentions. Smile more often. People are much more apt to respond warmly to you when they think they will be received well. Generate positivity. Avoid chances to criticize, complain, or judge others harshly. Remember the adage, "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it at all?" It's one that's put to good use by people with high social intelligence. Challenge yourself Try to become aware of the signals that your behavior and body language convey to others. For example, if your coworkers frequently ask you if something is wrong or why you're upset, it's a cue that you need to take a closer look at yourself. Do you walk around the office with a long face or a constantly slouched posture? If so, you may be communicating that you're unhappy or something is wrong even if you don't intend to do so. Although it's an easy thing to do, resist the urge to talk about yourself. Generally, sharing your thoughts and feelings can be a good thing. However, it's important to make an effort to expand conversations to more general topics and to ask polite questions about others. That way the people you're speaking with won't feel excluded or unimportant. This focus also helps you avoid disclosing too much personal information. No one is saying that you need to be close-mouthed or secretive. Just remember that when it comes to talking about your private life, sometimes less is more. Learn how to disagree gracefully. Having a different point of view from others isn't a problem unless you make it so. If you find yourself repeating your points or trying to persuade someone with no success, know when to quit and agree to disagree. If the point or disagreement is an important one, seek to truly understand the other person so you can find common ground. When you're able to compromise, both of you can be satisfied. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Linguistic Intelligence You scored a 10 out of 10 on Linguistic Intelligence. This means that you scored above 100% of the others who took this test. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 What is linguistic intelligence? Generally, people with a high degree of linguistic intelligence have a greater gift for expressing themselves than most other people do. In fact, linguistically intelligent people often become known as real wordsmiths among their friends and colleagues. Whether their skills center on having the gift of gab or the ability to turn an elegant phrase, linguistically intelligent types know how to get a point across with precision and flair. Poets, thespians, writers, and public speakers are among the people who rely heavily on linguistic intelligence. At times, having this type of intelligence can make for very persuasive communication. By choosing the right words at the right time, linguistic intelligence can help people clearly express their ideas, thoughts, and feelings to others. This can be a crucial skill in both professional and personal life. Linguistically talented people are often able to tailor their communication to a variety of audiences. Many also seem to know when subtlety is more appropriate than being overly direct. Think about the people in your life who can tell a great story or who have others in stitches when telling a joke. That's linguistic intelligence, too. It's a skill that can make people a real hit in social situations. By crafting vivid descriptions and emotional language, people with linguistic intelligence can keep an audience riveted. People who score relatively high on this intelligence tend to think in words instead of pictures. As a result, when it comes to learning something, they're better able to understand verbal explanations than charts or drawings. Studying the origins of words, slang, and metaphors can also be intriguing to those who score high on this intelligence. As for leisure time, when linguistic types are not telling stories themselves, they might be found curled up with a good book. Typically lovers of the written word, linguistically intelligent people can be voracious readers. You've already got a better handle on this type of intelligence than most people do, but there's always room for improvement. The action points below can help you to make your written and verbal communication skills more varied, specific, and engaging. Start small and work up. Start small Dust off your dictionary, and use it to learn five new words a week. You'd be amazed at how many words you've probably never even seen. For an added challenge, consider buying a book on verbal expressions like metaphors or quotations to familiarize yourself with new expressions. Once you've got them down, try working them into conversations. If you remember your dreams, keep a dream journal next to your bed, and each morning take a few minutes to capture them as vividly as possible on paper. If you don't already own one, stop by your local library or bookstore to pick up some books on tape. As you listen to them, take careful note of how narrators bring the stories to life. Challenge yourself Try writing a nonfiction story with a standard plot line. Standard plot lines usually consist of an introduction, rising action, the climax or turning point, falling action, and a resolution. Books are available on this topic if you need help. Try to write a poem that encapsulates how you felt when you did something on your own for the first time. Think about a funny experience you've had and practice telling it out loud in front of a mirror in the most dramatic and amusing way possible. Once you're comfortable, try it out on your friends or family. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Personal Intelligence You scored a 10 out of 10 on Personal Intelligence. This means that you scored above 100% of the others who took this test. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 What is personal intelligence? People with a high level of personal intelligence aren't afraid to ask themselves life's big questions: "Why am I here?" or "What's the meaning of life?" These issues are everyday fare for people using their personal intelligence. By being willing to explore the unknown, personally intelligent people can seem positively fearless to those who'd rather focus on simpler, more concrete issues. It's true: Asking deep questions that may have no definitive answers can be scary at times. However, by delving into these existential places, personally intelligent types can become very in tune with their feelings, values, and ideals. It's a kind of self-knowledge that people with less of this intelligence rarely experience. After all, getting to know who you are and understanding your place in this world should not be things left only to philosophers, psychologists, and religious scholars. Developing a solid sense of yourself can be crucial to nurturing self-esteem and a positive self-image. People who score high on personal intelligence are typically comfortable expressing the full spectrum of their emotions. They are also generally in tune with their conscious and unconscious feelings. Perhaps most importantly, people with a high degree of this intelligence appear not just to recognize their own emotions, but the underlying causes for them, as well. This can make personally intelligent people very self-reliant and able to improve their own lives. People who are personally intelligent seem to realize that it's not so important what the answers to life's big questions are, but that the questions are being asked. By forcing yourself to face who you are, you can begin to accept who you are, as well. Possessing inner peace can make what others think of you matter much less. In activating personal intelligence to its fullest, you can effectively enrich your life. This is true because in many ways, this kind of intelligence represents an integration of your mind and heart. Personal intelligence is never completely achieved. In fact, this particular type of intelligence needs to be practiced on a consistent basis in order to be maintained. Based on your score, it's apparent that you use this type of intelligence to some extent already. With this in mind, below our research team has offered a variety of exercises to help you expand your self-knowledge. Try them out to see which ones most positively enhance your personal intelligence. Start small Get to know yourself by writing your own biography. If you're having a hard time getting the hang of writing about yourself, read a biography of someone you admire first. Once properly inspired, the writing may more easily. Practice being alone with your thoughts. Learn to enjoy silence. Many people avoid dealing with themselves by always having some type of distraction around them — TV, music, other people. Try spending 20 to 30 minutes of quiet time to yourself each day. Do something that makes you happy at least once a day. Pet your cat. Take a run. Play with a niece or nephew. Whatever you choose to do, make sure that you're giving yourself time to enjoy your life and the things and people around you. Challenge yourself Forgive someone unconditionally for what they have done to you. Understand that your negative feelings are only weighing you down. Better yet, forgive yourself for something that you've done and that you truly regret. You'll be surprised the weight that can be lifted from you when you practice forgiveness. Is there something you always wanted to do but have always been afraid to try — like rock climbing, taking a dance class, or even going on a safari? Remember that where there's a will, there's a way. Take a little time to do some research and bolster your self-confidence. Once you start charting out a concrete plan you may find that the goal isn't so unreachable after all. Find ways to strengthen your spirit. Whether it's through practicing your religion or some type of philosophy, find ways to feel connected with yourself and with nature. Some people feel at peace with themselves in a house of worship, such as a church, mosque, temple, or synagogue. Others go to a park or garden, or simply take a walk to seek spiritual refuge. Wherever you go, you can strengthen your personal intelligence by taking time to reflect and be thankful. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Physical Intelligence You scored a 9 out of 10 on Physical Intelligence. This means that you scored above 90% of the others who took this test. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 What is physical intelligence? When most of us think of physical intelligence, we think of dancers and athletes. Indeed, athletic prowess, physical grace, and control of the body for achievement or expression are each important aspects of this kind of intelligence. However, another important facet is the use of fine motor skills such as hand-eye coordination for activities like surgery, carpentry, and painting. Very few people can accomplish the highest levels of physical intelligence, and those who do — whether sports heroes or heart surgeons — are usually both admired and paid handsomely for it. Yet everyone can benefit enormously from improving our intelligence in this realm. Until recently, physical intelligence was something that had been devalued in our society, mostly as a result of the industrial revolution. Once people developed machines to do tasks like farming and metal work, people's physical abilities in these areas were pushed aside. Fortunately today, medical research demonstrates the importance of physical activity and maintaining a mind-body connection. It's been found that the more people use their bodies and preserve their physical capabilities, the more their thinking can improve, as well. Physical intelligence isn't just about muscle and athleticism. There are a variety of skills that can be worked on when it comes to improving physical intelligence including strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, dexterity, expressiveness, coordination, and good reflexes (Armstrong, 1999). People who use this type of intelligence frequently come to see their bodies as a source of joy, along with the added bonus of suffering less from stress and certain types of disease. With all the talk in the media about the importance of physical fitness and an active lifestyle, you probably understand the value of some aspects of physical intelligence by now. In fact, based on your score, it's evident that you've put emphasis on this intelligence in your own life already. As a result, Tickle's experts are making the stakes in this area higher by giving you a variety of physical challenges. Because physical intelligence can be easily measured, you'll be able to appreciate your progress as you go. Start small So long as you don't have any specific physical limitations, try working on your flexibility. One way to test your present level of flexibility is by seeing if, while holding your arms straight, you can make the palms of your hands touch each other behind your back. Practice daily until you can do so. Or for a more in-depth challenge, consider trying out a beginner yoga class at your local gym. Breathing is crucial to health and fitness. Yet did you know that most of us breathe incorrectly? Correct breathing is accomplished by inhaling deeply and expanding your abdomen so that your diaphragm moves downward. This way, air flows into your lungs more effectively. When you breathe out the diaphragm moves upward so that the air is pushed out of the lungs. Try concentrating on your breathing for at least five minutes per day. If you don't already, try to make simple exercises a part of your daily routine. Consider adding a 30-minute speed walk or floor exercise session to your schedule. You'll be amazed by what even these short workouts can accomplish when you stick to them. Challenge yourself Increase your strength, reflexes, and balance by taking a martial arts or a self-defense course. If there's not one available in your area, try to find yourself a good at home martial arts workout video instead. Go out dancing! Whether in a class or at a club, it can be fun to express yourself physically. Don't worry if you're not great at first; there'll be lots of other beginners. No matter what type of dance you choose (e.g., salsa, ballroom, tap, jazz), it can increase your grace and coordination. Get a complete fitness evaluation by a personal trainer. Once you've discussed your goals and determined your fitness level, you can develop a regimen that increases particular strengths or works on weaknesses. Famous uses of intelligence We can all use a little inspiration. Check out how these visionaries put their different types of intelligence to work. The list below is a perfect example of how important each type of intelligence really is. If everyone were simply book-smart, where would we all be today? Visual/Spatial Dale Chihuly: Glassblower and artist Maya Lin: Architect of the Civil Rights and Vietnam Veteran's Memorials Charles and Ray Eames: Furniture designers Logical/Mathematical Erno Rubik: Inventor of the Rubik's Cube John Nash: Mathematician Suze Orman: Financial advisor Social Dr. Phil McGraw: Author and therapist Dr. John Gottman: Researcher and marriage counselor Barbara Walters: Journalist and talk show host Linguistic Amy Tan: Writer Pablo Neruda: Poet Tony Kushner: Playwright Personal Dalai Lama: Tibetan spiritual leader Deepak Chopra: Spiritual guru Oprah Winfrey: Talk show host Physical Twyla Tharp: Choreographer and dancer Lance Armstrong: Bike racer Dr. Christiaan Barnard: Surgeon of first heart transplant Your multiple intelligences report Your greatest strength Your complete intelligence profile History behind the test Reading list Fortunately, the field of assessing intelligence has come a long way from measuring the size of our skulls. However, even 50 years ago, traditional beliefs about intelligence indicated that people's capacity for learning was fixed. In other words, the prevailing view was that you're either born smart or you're not. Furthermore, measuring intelligence was almost completely limited to how well you performed on logic and math tests. But fast-forward to the early 1980s, and you would have found Dr. Howard Gardner advocating a new way of looking at intelligence. His influential theory of multiple intelligences helped educational psychologists and others to broaden their thinking about what it means to be smart. According to Gardner, thinking about intelligence needed to acknowledge more than one form of intelligence. To describe the many dimensions Gardner felt made up intelligence, he coined the term multiple intelligences. His theory centers on the idea that intelligence is made up of at least seven to nine distinct abilities. It also postulates that all human beings possess a number of types of intelligence in varying amounts. What's more is that Gardner believed people's intelligence could be improved. To help you put Gardner's theory in action, Tickle created the Multiple Intelligences test. While Gardner looked at up to nine different areas of intelligence, Tickle's test focuses on what we feel to be the core six: linguistic, visual/spatial, logical/mathematical, physical (or as Gardner called it, "body"), social (Gardner termed it "interpersonal"), and personal (Gardner used the term "intrapersonal"). We hope this test helps you understand that you no longer need to be judged by strict and narrow standards of what it means to be smart. Instead, you can start to appreciate the many ways that you and others are intelligent. If you'd like to learn more about this topic, Tickle's research team suggests the references below for future reading.