Robert Sternberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert J. Sternberg
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Robert J. Sternberg in 2011
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| Born | December 8, 1949 Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Yale University (BA) Stanford University (PhD) |
| Known for | Triarchic theory of intelligence Triangular theory of love The Three-Process View |
| Awards | James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award (1999) E. L. Thorndike Award (2003) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Cognitive psychology |
| Institutions | Oklahoma State University, Yale University, Tufts University, University of Wyoming, Cornell University |
| Doctoral advisor | Gordon Bower |
Robert J. Sternberg (born December 8, 1949) is a famous American psychologist. He studies how people think and learn. He is currently a professor at Cornell University.
Sternberg earned his first degree from Yale University. He then got his PhD from Stanford University. He has received many special awards and thirteen honorary doctorates from universities around the world. He is also a respected expert at the University of Cambridge.
One of his most important ideas is the triarchic theory of intelligence. He also has theories about creativity, wisdom, love, and leadership. In 2002, a survey said he was one of the most often mentioned psychologists of the 20th century.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Robert J. Sternberg was born in New Jersey in 1949. When he was a child, he often felt very nervous about tests. This made it hard for him to do well on them. He believed that tests did not truly show what he knew.
Later, he took a test in a room with younger students. He felt more relaxed and his scores got much better. This experience made him interested in why people think and learn differently. It led him to study psychology. He even created his own intelligence test called STOMA.
Robert Sternberg's Career
Sternberg went to Yale University for his undergraduate studies. His parents had not finished high school. He was able to attend Yale because he won a special scholarship. Even though he struggled in his first psychology class, he worked hard. He graduated with top honors.
He then went on to Stanford University. There, he earned his PhD in 1975. After that, he returned to Yale as a professor. He worked at Yale for 30 years. He became a very important professor there. He also started a center for studying abilities and skills.
In 2005, he moved to Tufts University. He became the Dean of Arts and Sciences. Later, he worked at Oklahoma State University as a provost. In 2013, he became the president of the University of Wyoming. After a short time there, he joined Cornell University as a professor.
Leading the University of Wyoming
Robert Sternberg became the 24th president of the University of Wyoming in July 2013. He wanted to help students and staff become better leaders. He believed that leadership should include strong ethics, which means doing the right thing.
Sternberg wanted to change how students were chosen for the university. He thought that traditional tests like the ACT only showed a small part of what a good leader needs. He wanted to include ethics in the admission process.
During his time as president, some changes happened with the university's leaders. Several top officials resigned or were asked to leave. This caused some discussion on campus. Sternberg resigned from his position in November 2013. He said that the role might not be the best fit for him.
Special Degrees and Awards
Robert Sternberg has received 13 honorary doctorates. These are special degrees given to people who have achieved great things. Some of these degrees came from universities outside the United States. These include schools in Spain, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Cyprus, France, and Russia.
He has also won many important awards for his work. These include the Cattell Award and the E. L. Thorndike Award. He also received the Grawemeyer Award for Psychology in 2018. He is considered one of the most important psychologists of the 20th century.
What Robert Sternberg Studies
Sternberg's main research areas include:
- How people use their minds, like intelligence, creativity, and wisdom.
- Different ways people think.
- How our thinking can change and improve.
- What makes a good leader.
- The feelings of love and hate.
He created the triarchic theory of intelligence. He also developed the triangular theory of love. He believes that creative people "buy low and sell high" with ideas. This means they find new ideas that others might not see value in yet. Then they develop them until they become popular.
Sternberg has also criticized traditional IQ tests. He says they only measure a small part of what intelligence really is. He believes they don't show a person's full abilities.
Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
Many ideas about intelligence focus on skills like vocabulary, understanding, memory, and problem-solving. These are often measured by intelligence tests. This way of thinking looks at how people behave when they are thought to be intelligent.
Sternberg believes this view is too narrow. He thinks it only shows one part of intelligence. This part is often seen in people who are "school smart" or "book smart."
For example, some people don't score well on intelligence tests. But they might be very creative or "street smart." This means they are good at adapting to their environment. Sternberg believes that being gifted should be looked at more broadly.
The Three Parts of Intelligence
Sternberg divides intelligence into three main parts:
- Analytical intelligence: This is the ability to solve problems like those on traditional intelligence tests. These problems usually have one correct answer.
- Creative intelligence: This is the ability to handle new and unusual situations. People use their existing knowledge and skills in new ways. People with high creative intelligence might give different answers. This is because they see things from a new perspective.
- Practical intelligence: This is the ability to deal with everyday life. It uses existing knowledge and skills. Practical intelligence helps a person understand what needs to be done in a situation. Then, they know how to do it.
Sternberg also talks about how experience helps intelligence. Creative intelligence helps people use ideas from one problem to solve a new one. He calls this relative novelty. When a process becomes very familiar, it becomes automatic. This frees up brain power for new ideas.
The environment, or "context," is also important. This means how a person adapts to, chooses, and shapes their surroundings. People with practical intelligence are good at picking up unspoken information. They use this information to shape their environment.
Sternberg created a test to find people who are gifted in ways other tests miss. This test is called the Sternberg Triarchic Abilities Test. It measures traditional intelligence. But it also measures analytical, creative, and practical skills.
Real-World Use
When Sternberg was a Dean at Tufts University, he added new ways to apply to college. He wanted to test students' "creativity and other non-academic factors." This was a new idea for a major university. Tufts still uses traditional tests like the SAT, but also looks at these other skills.
How We Think: Cognitive Styles
In 1988, Sternberg suggested a theory about cognitive styles. This is about the different ways people prefer to think and act. He believes that how governments are set up shows how people organize their thoughts. Cognitive styles are not about how smart you are. They are about how you like to use your intelligence.
He compares thinking styles to the three branches of government:
- Legislative style: People with this style like to create new things. They make their own rules as they go.
- Executive style: These people like to follow rules. They prefer to work within a set structure.
- Judicial style: People with this style like to evaluate rules and procedures. They analyze existing structures.
Sternberg also described four ways people govern their own minds:
- Hierarchical style: These people have many goals at once. They are good at putting them in order of importance.
- Oligarchic style: Similar to hierarchical, but they find it hard to prioritize their many goals.
- Monarchic style: This style focuses on one task until it is finished.
- Anarchic style: These people don't like following systems or rules. They prefer their own approach to problems.
There are also two levels of thinking:
- Local style: Focuses on small, specific problems. Sometimes they miss the bigger picture.
- Global style: Focuses on big, abstract ideas. Sometimes they miss the small details.
And two scopes of thinking:
- Internal style: Prefers to work alone and focus inward.
- External style: Prefers to work with others and focus outward.
Finally, two leanings:
- Liberal style: Likes change and going beyond old rules.
- Conservative style: Dislikes change and prefers familiar, predictable situations.
Everyone has a mix of these thinking styles. These styles can change depending on the situation or stage of life. People often have a main style and a secondary preferred style.
See also
In Spanish: Robert J. Sternberg para niños
