The propulsion theory of creative contributions is a theory that focuses on how a creative act or product builds on and adds to knowledge in various fields. In this article, we apply the propulsion theory of creative contributions not to creative discoveries or inventions, but rather to late-career decisions about future directions in which one…

This study addressed whether prior successes with educational interventions grounded in the theory of successful intelligence could be replicated on a larger scale as the primary basis for instruction in language arts, mathematics, and science. A total of 7,702 4th-grade students in the United States, drawn from 223 elementary school classrooms in…

Searches for an understanding of developmental scholar William Kessen, and of what he was trying to teach in his later years. Discusses possible sources of Kessen's dissatisfaction with the field of child development, and whether any of these issues can be resolved in ways that Kessen might not have fully anticipated. Summarizes the main lessons…

Two influential theories of intellectual development are reviewed and analyzed: the psychometric framework, based on the factorial composition of intelligence, and the Piagetian model, based on assimilation and accomodation through four stages of intellectual development. A third concept is the componential theory of intelligence, based on…

Argues that the cognitive mechanisms in human creativity are, for the most part, sighted rather than blind. Reviews attempts to apply evolutionary ideas to psychology and argues that these ideas do not apply to the psychology of human creativity. An alternative sighted-variation framework is then proposed. (Author/CR)

A subtheory of intellectual giftedness is presented that centers on the role of insight. Component processes of insight (selective encoding, combination, and comparison) are reviewed, and approaches to its evaluation are noted. Results of an intervention study are cited to suggest the feasibility of training insight. (CL)

Examines the relationship of intelligence to the internal and external world of the individual and to the experience of the individual. Also examines competing models and metaphors that have motivated questions about these relationships. Indicates that a theory that addressed all three areas simultaneously is the triarchic theory. (JN)

A three-stage model for the evolution of theories of intelligence is proposed and applied to understanding the evolution of correlationally based and experimentally based theories of intelligence. In stage one, alternative conceptions compete. In subsequent stages, alternative conceptions, which combine elements of prior approaches, emerge and…

Successful intelligence is the ability to attain life goals by adapting to, shaping, and selecting environments and recognizing and dealing with strengths and weaknesses. Research on the measurement of analytical, creative, and practical abilities validates the theory and the usefulness of triarchic instruction in finding a career path. (Contains …

Mental abilities can be analyzed at four levels: composite tasks, subtasks, components, and metacomponents. Each level of analysis reveals something about the structure and content of mental abilities responsible for intelligent performance. (Author/WI)

Reviews three alternative cognitive approaches for verbal comprehension. Discusses a theory of learning from context and cites empirical data to support the theory. Presents a componential framework for understanding verbal comprehension and suggests that the ability to acquire information from context is a key source of individual differences in…

Bad intelligence tests seem as inevitable as death and taxes. However, new theories of intelligence are resulting in some promising developments. Thirteen approaches to the measurement of intelligence are described, divided into the following categories: classical psychometric; developmental; culture-sensitive; cognitive; biological; and systems.…