Types of Intellect

The 4th, 5th & 6th Intelligence (according to Howard Gardner)

Existential Intelligence

Even as other people go about their daily lives without devoting much thought to their existence,

people with existential intelligence tend to mull over "deep" thoughts. These thoughts may include the why's and how's of life and death. While most people just shake these kinds of thoughts away,

individuals who are particularly keen to their own existence are drawn to exploring such questions like why are people born, how do they get here, and why do they die. They also have the capacity and sensitivity to tackle thoughts about what lies beyond life and death. Though not much discussion has been done about existential intelligence, it has also been called spiritual or moral intelligence. Those with high existential intelligence are deeply philosophical.

Interpersonal Intelligence

These "people smart" individuals, with the use of their interpersonal intelligence, interact with others in such a way that they are able to understand and communicate well. Interpersonal intelligence makes it possible for a person to effectively communicate through verbal and nonverbal means, to distinguish among others, to sense the temperament and moods of people, and to consider various points of view. You'll usually find this type of intelligence manifested

by politicians, social workers, actors, and teachers. This type of intelligence can also be found in

young adults who hold leadership roles.

Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence

While clumsy people have the tendency to be awkward in all things physical, "body smart" people possess the capacity to stay graceful and coordinated when using a range of physical skills and manipulating objects. People with bodily-kinesthetic intelligence have an almost perfect sense of timing, and their mind-body coordination is nearly faultless. Even as a number of persons struggle to become well-coordinated, people who possess this type of intelligence usually grow up to become craftspeople, dancers, surgeons, athletes, and other careers involving exceptional mind-body union.