Adults’ lay views about intelligence: A Reversal theory approach

Abstract The study, based on Reversal theory (Apter, 2001), explored the behaviors considered as representing intelligence in its broadest sense. These lay conceptions turned out to be accounted for by an eight-dimensional structure. Three elements had been previously identified in studies conducted on western samples: conformist (verbal ability), negativistic (dealing with novelty) and autic mastery (everyday competence). Three other elements had been previously identified in studies conducted on eastern samples: telic (intrapersonal intelligence), alloic mastery (intellectual self-promotion), and alloic sympathy (social competence). Two elements – paratelic and autic sympathy – were reminiscent of concepts found in the social psychology literature: the ability to be happy and self-esteem. This eightfold structure was shown to hold irrespective of participants’ age, gender and target’s age.