What is spatial intelligence and how to develop it?

Intelligence, for a time was visualized as aperfectly integrated whole, however today it has been contextualized in a different way, integrating into specialized areaswhere individuals are able to stand out, as in the case of spatial intelligence.

In this article, we will explainwhat spatial intelligence consists of, we will mention its main characteristics and we will describe how to develop it.

What is spatial intelligence?

To get into context, we will begin by mentioning that psychologistHoward Gardner(1) in his “Theory of Multiple Intelligences”, defines the concept of intelligence as the “ability to solve problems or to elaborate productsthat are of importance in a cultural context or in a given community”. (2)

In this sense, spatial intelligence is atype of intelligencethat belongs to this theory and is defined as those mental abilities of the person, related to the ability tomove and navigate in a space, as well as the ability to visualize, operate and rotate objects in our mind in addition to being able to establish relationships between them.

Important: The sensory organ that allowsthe use and development of spatial intelligence is sight, and this type of intelligence is closely linked tonaturalistic intelligence.

It is relevant to emphasize that, the individual with this developed ability, can make amental visualization of the spacewith which he wants to relate, having a perspective of up to three dimensions.

What are people with spatial intelligence like?

People who have developed spatial intelligence, have certain characteristicsthat identify them and that we mention below:

1. They mentally interpret objects

Once the space or object is perceived through sight, the person with this ability has the ability to process, manipulate and transform the objects or space of interest in the mind.

To highlight: Spatial intelligence allows you to see in advance the new configuration of the object or space, without having physically touched it and are commonly denoted as very creative people.

2. They think in images and photographs

Another way in which these people exploit this mental ability is that they reflect on previously visualized images and photographs and are able to transport themselves to those spaces or work on those objects, just by mentally visualizing said images.

Note: This ability is very typical of painting artists, photographers, architects, among others.

3. They have a high capacity for solving spatial problems

This characteristic is typical of engineers, designers and architects, who just by taking into account certain variables present in a place, can easily provide solutions to problems related to spaces.

You should know: These types of abilities are characteristic of subjects with an analytical personality and are also closely linked to logical-mathematical intelligence .

4. They excel at drawing, art, and construction

This mental ability is easily transferred to the motor part , linking spatial intelligence with Kinesthetic Intelligencetag. That is why people who work mentally with objects and spacesCombine it with manual skills for drawing, art or construction.

To highlight: Some academic works have concluded that the stimulation of spatial intelligence constitutes a necessary resource for the integral development of the individual. (3)

5. They are good for brain teasers

Another characteristic of these people is that they are good at mental games related to solving spatial problems such as chess, flying a drone, 3D video games, solving puzzles, among others.

How can spatial intelligence be developed?

It has been described that intelligence is an innate ability, however it must be trained to develop it. Here are some guidelines todevelop this ability , specifically, spatial intelligence:

1. Use spatial language

At this point, it is also necessary to train linguistic intelligence to develop spatial intelligence, that is, to use more frequently words that denote or identify spaces on a coordinate axis.

Note: We can include and use words of the of the pronominal type (here, there, there), locative adverbial locutions (next to, in front of, from), contiguity marks and topological relationships (on the chair, on the table ) or by using place names . (4)

2. Play chess, legos, puzzles and video games

We have already mentioned that people with this type of developed intelligence are especially skilledin games where the 3D spatial relationship is the protagonist. In this context, it is advisable to incorporate recreational activities into the weekly routinethat involve games with these characteristics .

Important: It must be taken into account that video games include Recreational Activitiesthat generate addiction, so their use must be supervised.

3. Make mental maps of locations

Another indicated activity to develop spatial intelligence is to create maps of geographical locations in the mind , for example, describe in the most detailed way possible how to get to a site with the information obtained from a previous visit.

4. Make sketches and fly a drone

to the eye and without the help of precision artifacts,

To highlight: Certain studies indicate that the development of spatial intelligence Determine the academic performance of school children. (5)

Key Findings

• Intelligence has a genetic component that differentiates individuals.
• Spatial intelligence consists of the ability to move and navigate in space.
• People with this ability can perform a mental visualization of space, without having to have physical contact with it.
• Spatial intelligence allows establishing a mental relationship between the subject, the space and the objects that make it up.