12 Fluid Intelligence Examples (Tips for Students)

What is fluid intelligence, what are the examples of fluid intelligence, and the origins of fluid and crystallized intelligence?

The concept of fluid and crystallized intelligence was introduced by British-American psychologist, Raymond Cattell.

Fluid intelligence refers to the ability to critically think about ways to solve emerging problems, while crystallized intelligence is more about facts, knowledge, and experiences acquired throughout life.

The latter tends to improve as we age, becoming more efficient with time. Both fluid and crystallized intelligence have their examples.

In this article, we want to look at the examples of the former and a few case studies demonstrating good examples.

Definition of Fluid Intelligence

Fluid intelligence refers to the ability to critically think about ways to solve emerging problems. It refers to the ability where an individual is able to think critically and solve problems with logic.

Fluid intelligence describes the ability to abstractly think without being influenced by prior experience. It’s your ability to acquire knowledge, evaluate, and navigate emerging situations.

This is a type of intelligence commonly used when we are learning something new. The British-American psychologist was the first person to propose the concept of fluid intelligence in 1963.

Fluid intelligence is the ability to solve new problems without relying on past experiences, facts, or knowledge. It’s a type of intelligence that begins to decline after people complete postsecondary education.

A few examples of fluid intelligence include creating strategies to solve timely problems, puzzles, and so on.

While fluid intelligence is more about solving new problems with newly acquired knowledge, crystallized intelligence is more about experiences, facts or knowledge acquired throughout life.

You can use both fluid and crystallized intelligence when you encounter certain problems. When you are in such a situation, you solve problems by recalling previous experiences with what you know at that moment.

A clear example would be an inventor manufacturing new types of vehicles, with the intent to solve the problem of fossil fuel use.

Also Read: What Are the Sociological Concepts? (Tips for Students)

Origins of the Theory of Intelligence

British-American psychologist Cattell in 1963 first proposed the concepts of fluid and crystallized intelligence.

In his book “Intelligence: Its Structure, Growth, and Action”, Cattell explained his theory. Cattell argued that while one can direct fluid intelligence and utilize it to access challenges they encounter, crystallized intelligence involves acquiring knowledge and skills.

This simply means it’s possible to use one type of intelligence without the other.

Cattell’s former student John Leonard Horn, the cognitive psychologist developed the ‘theory of intelligence further’. John Leonard Horn and Raymond Cattell both developed the Cattell-Horn theory of fluid and crystallized intelligence.

Their theory suggests that intelligence consists of different mental abilities and skills that work together to demonstrate an individual’s overall intelligence.

Application of Fluid and Crystallized Abilities to Problem-Solving

Fluid and crystallized intelligence usually work together to give good results and solve problems.

A simple and popular example of these two types of intelligence working together is Katherine Johnson.

Famous American mathematician, Katherine Johnson was a computer at NASA. Her primary job as a computer was to compute math problems for NASA scientists.

Johnson worked on lunar orbit calculations. She was perfect with her work, which made NASA astronauts ask her to run the numbers on the lunar mission.

The astronauts trusted Johnson’s calculations more than the newly-invented computers.

In this example, Katherine Johnson used fluid intelligence to solve problems using mathematical methods. However, it would have been an impossible feat to achieve if Johnson didn’t have the crystallized intelligence of complex mathematics.

Fluid Intelligence Examples

New knowledge acquired that can be used to solve emerging problems is the true definition of fluid intelligence. A few examples of fluid intelligence.

Solving Puzzles

Solving puzzles is what children love to do. They have to solve the problem of navigating from point A to B. Adults also solve puzzles during game nights or at some point in life.

Solving Mysteries

Jennifer and her friends love to attend murder-mystery dinners. They are eager to solve crimes before anyone else.

Also Read: 15 Analytical Thinking Examples (Tips for Students)

Solving Riddles

Micah and his friends love to read the riddles used by Shakespeare in his plays. They try to create modern versions of Shakespeare’s plays.

Making Weather Forecasts

A meteorologist need to examine a large portion of weather data for a specific day. As an expert, the meteorologist must filter out things that are irrelevant, and then create a weather forecast for the following week.

Doing Jigsaw Puzzles

The Petersons put together a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle every Saturday night. This is the family’s activity and a good reason to turn off everyone’s smartphones.

Syllogism

Fred loves syllogism and can spend hours working through various types and trying to write some of his own.

Figuring Things Out

Foster could use the instruction to couple his son’s new bike, but he choose to try and figure it out on his own.

Identifying Expressions in Communication

While watching videotapes of therapy sessions between patients and therapists, Isaac and Ariel noticed a specific pattern of super quick facial expressions during the sessions.

Arranging

Anytime the Acharyas send gifts back home, they allow their son to pack the boxes as he is good at arranging packages to fit perfectly into shipping boxes.

Spatial Design

Kingston is very good at staging the interiors of a home for sale so the homes look perfect for an open house.

Also Read: 10 Crystallized Intelligence Examples (Tips for Students)

Some Case Studies of Fluid Intelligence

A few case studies of fluid intelligence include;

Abstract Reasoning

This refers to the ability to properly understand or think about hypothetical concepts.

Abstract reasoning is regarded as a higher-order thinking skill, more complex than remembering dates and facts.

It’s important we consider various possibilities, analyse a situation from different perspectives, and identify pros and cons when we think about the principles involved in a situation.

While some people will easily engage in these processes thoroughly, others may encounter difficulties conducting any of these mental operations.

A lot of intelligence tests evaluate abstract reasoning by providing a series of figures and asking the test-taker to identify the pattern. They need also to choose from several options that complete the pattern.

Thinking Outside the Box

Thinking outside the box is a phrase commonly used in several contexts, most especially in the business world.

This is an ability possessed by a few individuals working in an environment that requires creative thinking. A thorough review of the existing problem and developing the idea to solve that problem involves generating a logical perspective.

Thinking outside the box is often achieved by redescribing the problem to review it from a different perspective.

Also Read: 10 Social Construction of Disability (Tips for Students)

Detective Work

Being a detective involves solving problems with intelligence. The job requires a great deal of fluid intelligence to help solve crimes.

Solving a crime involves putting large pieces of the puzzle together. A detective must be very good at analysing complex problems, collecting shreds of evidence, and thinking logically to solve cases.

In general, there may be countless pieces of evidence that will be analysed thoroughly to crack a murder case. Identifying complex information one at a time will make the difference.

Conclusion

Cattell introduced the concepts of fluid and crystallized intelligence in his work in 1963. Cattell and his former student, John Leonard Horn developed the Cattell-Horn theory of fluid and crystallized intelligence.

Fluid and crystallized intelligence can be used for new inventions and research breakthroughs.

Recommendations

References

Study.com: Fluid and Crystallized Intelligence: Definition & Examples
HelpfulProfessor: 16 Fluid Intelligence Examples
RB Cattell – 1987 Intelligence: Its structure, growth and action
PsychCentral: How We Use Fluid vs. Crystallized Intelligence
Indeed: Differences Between Crystallized vs. Fluid Intelligence
SpringerLink: Fluid Intelligence