ntelligences in Frames of Mind in 1983. Multiple Intelligences Theory or MI theory states that humans do not have one general intelligence measured by typical psychometric tests, but multiple intelligences with different skill sets. The traditional primary definition of intelligence, as listed in The American Heritage Dictionary, third edition, is the capacity to acquire and apply knowledge; the faculty of thought and reason. Based on this definition of intelligence, Gardner's theory does not seem valid. However, it does seem that these intelligences exist as different skill sets but not that they are autonomous enough to acquire the importance of separate intelligences. While Gardner feels this is merely political and that he is free to redefine intelligence, many in the academic community do not agree and do not support his theory. Many educators, however, feel differently and have embraced the theory to create educational philosophies and applications.
Gardner defines Multiple Intelligences Theory as the belief that "human cognitive competence is better described in terms of a set of abilities, talents, or mental skills, which are called 'intelligences'" (Gardner and Walters, 359). All humans possess these "intelligences" to some extent, but individuals differ in the strength to which they are able to use these skills. The criteria used to define intelligences were derived from the following biological, cultural, and psychological sources:
knowledge about normal development and development in gifted individuals; information about the breakdown of cognitive skills under conditions of brain damage; studies of exceptional populations, including prodigies, idiots savants, and autistic children; data about the evolution of cognition over the millennia; cross-cultural accounts of cognition; psychometric studies, including examinations of correlations among tests; and psychological training studies, particularly measures of ...