Editing Human intelligence (section)

== Intelligence across cultures ==
[[Psychologist]]s have shown that the definition of human intelligence is unique to the culture that one is studying. [[Robert Sternberg]] is among the researchers who have discussed how one's culture affects the person's interpretation of intelligence, and he further believes that to define intelligence in only one way without considering different meanings in cultural contexts may cast an investigative and unintentionally egocentric view on the world. To negate this, psychologists offer the following definitions of intelligence:
# Successful intelligence is the skills and knowledge needed for success in life, according to one's own definition of success, within one's sociocultural context.
# Analytical intelligence is the result of intelligence's components applied to fairly abstract but familiar kinds of problems.
# Creative intelligence is the result of intelligence's components applied to relatively novel tasks and situations.
# Practical intelligence is the result of intelligence's components applied to experience for purposes of adaption, shaping and selection.<ref>''Intelligence and Culture'', Robert Sternberg, American Psychologist, American Psychological Association, 2004, Vol. 59, No. 5, pp. 325-338.</ref>

Although typically identified by its western definition, multiple studies support the idea that human intelligence carries different meanings across cultures around the world. In many Eastern cultures, intelligence is mainly related with one's social roles and responsibilities. A Chinese conception of intelligence would define it as the ability to empathize with and understand others — although this is by no means the only way that intelligence is defined in [[China]].
In several African communities, intelligence is shown similarly through a social lens. However, rather than through social roles, as in many Eastern cultures, it is exemplified through social responsibilities. For example, in the language of Chi-Chewa, which is spoken by some ten million people across central [[Africa]], the equivalent term for intelligence implies not only cleverness but also the ability to take on responsibility. Furthermore, within American culture there are a variety of interpretations of intelligence present as well. One of the most common views on intelligence within American societies defines it as a combination of problem-solving skills, [[deductive reasoning]] skills, and [[IQ|Intelligence quotient]] (IQ), while other American societies point out that intelligent people should have a [[social conscience]], accept others for who they are, and be able to give advice or [[wisdom]].<ref>''Intelligence and Culture'', Robert Serpell, Handbook of Intelligence, Cambridge University Press, 2000, pp. 549-578.</ref>