Hi, Leotard.
My grandfather always told me that the brain is like a muscle, and if
you don't use it, it'll get all flabby and pathetic; and simple
observation has proven him right, as far as I'm concerned.
And, like so many common-sense things our grandparents taught us, the
scientific community has finally gotten around to proving it. Here's
an article describing a decrease in Alzheimer's symptoms in those who
participate in leisure activities:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2001-12/aaon-lad121401.php
Eureka Alert, indeed. From this article:
"“Even when controlling for factors like ethnic group, education and
occupation, subjects with high leisure activity had 38 percent less
risk of developing dementia,” according to study author Yaakov Stern,
PhD. Interestingly, the study also showed that participation in
leisure activities may have a cumulative effect, with an additional 8
percent risk reduction associated with each leisure activity engaged.
All three activity categories were shown to be beneficial, although
the intellectual activities were associated with highest risk
reduction."
And here's something that I just couldn't leave sitting there without
comment:
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_454400.html?menu=news.scienceanddiscovery
Yes. Curry is good for your brain. Any excuse for Indian food.
You probably already knew about the Alzheimer's studies, or at least
had a wise old grandparent, though, so onward to some ideas for brain
workouts.
Intelligence takes many forms, and I think most of us know someone
who's incredibly intelligent in some area but can barely tie their
shoes or remember to change their clothes. (Or maybe I just know a lot
of mad scientists and I'm projecting.)
So let's break down to some extent the types of intelligence, and come
up with some ways that you could exercise your abilities in those
areas.
A search on "types of intelligence" results in almost too many
relevant links, so I'll just go with the first few and take it from
there. Most of these are based on psychologist Howard Gardner's seven
types of intelligence. These are, in a nutshell:
Linguistic
Logical/Mathematical
Bodily/Kinesthetic
Spatial
Musical
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
This page describes the various types of intelligence:
http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm#Multiple Intelligences
Explained
There's also a test you can take on the site to determine what your
dominant intelligence is, and to identify what areas you're weaker in,
if you're interested in evening these out:
http://www.ldrc.ca/projects/miinventory/miinventory.php
This page lists these intelligence types in the context of
understanding gifted children:
http://www.swopnet.com/ed/TAG/7_Intelligences.html
This might be useful in that the activities it lists as indicators for
each type of intelligence could be used prescriptively.
For example, take this item:
"4. Spatial
These children think in images and pictures. They may be fascinated
with mazes or jigsaw puzzles, or spend free time drawing, building
with Legos or daydreaming."
So, if you want to increase your spatial intelligence, this would give
you some basic ideas. Do jigsaw puzzles and mazes, take a drawing
class, or build something.
So, to get to your final answer, let's go through these seven types of
intelligence one by one, and try to come up with things you can do to
exercise your abilities in those areas.
First, his page lets you download a PDF booklet describing how to
boost your intelligence in Gardner's seven categories:
http://www.bena.com/ewinters/styles3.html
Visual/Spatial Intelligence
In addition to the activities listed above, a search on "increase
visual spatial intelligence" results in this page from an site for
teachers:
http://www.america-tomorrow.com/ati/mi4.htm
Now, on the surface, this appears to simply recommend the use of video
in the classroom to enhance the learning experience for
visually-oriented students, but reading between the lines, I'd say
that, oh, VIDEO GAMES might just fit the bill here to increase your
visual and spatial abilities.
Another resource, which provides several exercises in visual and
spatial intelligence, is here, along with a detailed description of
this type of intelligence:
http://www.multi-intell.com/articles/vs_article.htm
Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence
A search of "increase verbal linguistic intelligence" results in these
links:
http://www.bena.com/ewinters/styles3.html
"To boost your verbal/linguistic intelligence:
teach someone to do something
play memory and word play games
invent and then write/tell a sequel to a movie"
I would add:
* Just read books, especially those by writers famous for their
wordplay, such as Thomas Love Peacock.
* Read up on linguistics. Steven Pinker's _The Language Instinct_
provides a nice overview for the beginner, for example.
Logical/Mathematical Intelligence
Again, from http://www.bena.com/ewinters/styles3.html:
"To expand on your logical/mathematical intelligence:
explain how to do something in a clearly defined sequence
stop films/videos and predict what will happen
games of patterning, classifying and strategy "
I would add:
* Take a basic computer programming course, or study one on your own.
* Buy some math textbooks at used book sales and do a few problems.
* Get a book of logic problems and work through them.
Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence
I've decided I need to stop quoting the site at
http://www.bena.com/ewinters/styles3.html, and now will simply add my
recommendations.
* Take up a sport.
* Take a class in yoga or dance.
* Teach a dog to play frisbee.
Musical/Rhythmic Intelligence
* Listen to music, preferably all different types. Expand your musical
horizons. Listening to new types of music may make you more aware of
how it's put together.
* Take music lessons.
* Close your shades, lock your doors, and dance around.
Interpersonal Intelligence
Oh, this is just overrated, I'm sure. Who EVEN understands the secret
semiotic languages people use? As someone who dresses funny and can't
even begin to make small talk, I'm afraid I'll have to go back and
defer to the authority of a Google search on - increase interpersonal
intelligence - on this one.
This site provides an overview of interpersonal, or 'emotional'
intelligence, and may provide some ideas on enhancing this:
http://www.astromind.com/intelligence/define.html
In a nutshell, I think you have to talk to people.
Also look into a book called "Please Understand Me," which describes,
in layman's terms, the Kiersey Temperament Sorter:
http://keirsey.com/Please.html
My dad was an engineer, and his company once sent all their dorky
engineers to a class based on this book so they would quit being so
dorky all the time. I'm not really sure how well it worked, but some
of us are pretty tough nuts to crack in that regard. According to the
tests, it's because we're hardcore INTPs.
Intrapersonal Intelligence
This will be very similar to interpersonal intelligence, with the
exception that it is done inside your skin. Again, the Keirsey
Temperament Sorter and other personality tests might be of use in this
regard.
Here's a pretty big site of personality tests available online:
http://www.2h.com/personality-tests.html
Well, I think that pretty much covers it.
One final thing I'd recommend, based solely on personal preference, is
cryptic crossword puzzles. They work both on linguistic and logical
abilities, providing clues that need to be broken down and rearranged
in various ways to sort out the answers. Here's a good, fairly
comprehensive site:
http://www.crypticross.com/
And you can download Across Lite, a crossword puzzle add-on for your
web browser, as well as free crosswords, here:
http://www.litsoft.com/
OK. Now I'm really done.
Good luck, and have fun.
Lisa.
Search terms:
"types of intelligence"
increase intelligence spatial visual
increase intelligence logical mathematical
increase intelligence verbal linguistic
increase intelligence bodily kinesthetic
increase intelligence intrapersonal
increase intelligence interpersonal
increase intelligence musical rhythmic
"Please Understand Me"
"personality tests" |
Clarification of Answer by
lisarea-ga
on
06 Aug 2002 19:05 PDT
Leotard,
I'm sorry that this wasn't what you were looking for, but in the
future, before you rate a question low, you might want to request a
clarification first, to try to pin down the specific information you
were looking for.
The way your original question was phrased didn't indicate anything
about your wanting to focus on "social intelligence," and in fact,
your reference to IQ would seem to indicate otherwise, so I
intentionally glossed over the social aspects, thinking this was not
what you wanted.
At any rate, if you focus on exercises for improving "interpersonal
intelligence," you may find what you're looking for. There have also
been some studies relating to depth perception and "geekiness," which
indicate that a lot of people who are perceived by others as socially
inept or 'nerdy' have problems with depth perception, which can
interfere with their understanding of certain kind of spatial rules
that are rarely taught explicitly. (Think 'elbow room.') There are
also courses available on topics such as public speaking and business
etiquette, as well as free university type classes on meeting women,
small talk (I have a friend who took a class in small talk), and other
such social skills.
I sympathize completely with the desire to increase one's social
aptitude, and if you'd provided a little more detail in your question,
perhaps we could have come up with a better solution for your needs.
Again, I'm sorry that the answer wasn't what you were looking for.
Lisa.
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