Q.Are there cultural differences in the conceptualisation of intelligence?

Yes. Because intelligence helps people adapt to their environment, and the environment is cultural, cultures conceptualise intelligence differently. Technologically advanced Western societies value technological intelligence — skills of attention, speed, abstraction, generalisation and personal achievement, which Western tests measure. Many Asian and African societies value an integral intelligence that stresses connectivity with the social and world environment. In the Indian tradition, the Sanskrit word buddhi is broader than the Western concept, and intelligence is seen through cognitive capacity, social competence, emotional competence and entrepreneurial competence. …

Why culture matters

A major characteristic of intelligence is that it helps people adapt to their environment, and that environment is shaped by culture. Vygotsky argued that culture provides the social context in which people live, grow and understand the world; higher mental functions like problem-solving and thinking are largely culture-produced. Culture is a collective system of customs, beliefs, attitudes and achievements, and it tunes a person's intelligence.

Technological intelligence (Western view)

Technologically advanced societies adopt child-rearing that fosters skills of generalisation, abstraction, speed, minimal moves and mental manipulation. Persons are well-versed in attention, observation, analysis, performance, speed and achievement orientation — this is technological intelligence. Intelligence tests developed in the West look precisely for these skills, which is why they may be culture-biased, favouring educated, urban, middle-class groups.

Integral intelligence (Indian tradition)

Technological skill is not so valued in many Asian and African societies, which prize the ability to relate to others and self-reflection over individual achievement. Contrary to the technological view, intelligence in the Indian tradition is termed integral intelligence, which emphasises connectivity with the social and world environment and gives equal attention to cognitive and non-cognitive processes and their integration. The Sanskrit word buddhi is far more pervasive than the Western term — according to J.P. Das it includes mental effort, determined action, feelings and opinions along with knowledge, discrimination and understanding, and even knowledge of one's own self. The Indian tradition identifies four facets of intelligence: …