Extremes of Intelligence

1. Extremes of Intelligence A.P. Psychology Chapter 9

2. Mental Retardation • Sub-average general mental ability accompanied by deficiencies in adaptive skills, originating before age 18 • Adaptive skills = communication, self-care, home living, social interaction, community use and health & safety

3. 2-3% of the school-age population is diagnosed as mentally retarded Most are considered “mildly retarded” and will become self-supporting adults Over 350 organic syndromes are known to cause mental retardation However, a true cause is only able to be diagnosed in about 25% of cases Unfavorable environmental factors may be linked to MR as well Low socioeconomic status, marital instability, parental neglect, inadequate nutrition & medical care, lower-quality schooling Mental Retardation: The Facts

4. Levels of Mental Retardation

5. Mainstreaming • An approach to special education • Students with special needs spend some time in “general education” classes based upon their skills • Most of the educational day is spent in “self-contained classrooms” or “resource rooms” • Work one-on-one with special educators in smaller sized classrooms

6. Inclusion • An approach to special education • Students with special needs spend most or all of their time at school with non-disabled students • Rejects the use of “special schools” or “segregated classrooms” for students with special needs • Fully inclusive schools (rare) no longer differentiate between “general education” and “special education”

7. Researchers, educators & parents favor mainstreaming over inclusion Focus on gaining some academic skills, even though modified Both lead to higher academic achievement, higher self-esteem & better social skills Politics tends to favor inclusion It is more of a moral stance Focus on social development & being allowed the same opportunities Both teach tolerance & understanding to the general education population Mainstreaming vs. Inclusion

8. Giftedness • Widely misunderstood • Research is heavily based upon IQ scores & has become a label for many children (2 – 5 %) with IQ scores above 140 • Current studies are showing that “giftedness” goes beyond IQ & the focus should be on individual gifts instead of something you either have or your don’t have

9. Stereotype Television & movies often inaccurately portray gifted children Nerds Misfits Weak Sickly Socially inept Bookworms Emotionally troubled Reality Study by Lewis Terman (1921) Above average height, weight, strength & physical health Emotionally stable High social maturity Above average mental health Stereotype vs. Reality

10. Some Discrepancies • Ellen Winner (1997) • Differentiates between moderately gifted children (IQ 130-150) and profoundly gifted children (IQ above 180) • Asserts that profoundly gifted children are often introverted and socially isolated • According to her research, incidence of interpersonal & emotional problems are twice as high in profoundly gifted children as in other groups