from Alchemy to Transhumanism volumen 0

Louis Leon Thurstone was a

prominent American

psychologist known for his

significant contributions to

the study of intelligence and

the development of factor

analysis as a mathematical

technique for understanding the structure of

cognitive abilities.

Thurstone's work challenged Charles Spearman's

theory of a single, general factor (g) underlying

intelligence. Instead, Thurstone argued that

intelligence was comprised of multiple, relatively

independent factors. He believed that these

factors, or "primary mental abilities," were distinct

cognitive dimensions that together made up an

individual's intelligence. His approach represented a

departure from the prevailing belief in a unitary

intelligence and contributed to the development of

more nuanced theories of intelligence.

Key points related to Thurstone's contributions:

1. **Primary Mental Abilities:** Thurstone

identified seven primary mental abilities, which he

believed were the fundamental components of

intelligence. These included verbal comprehension,

numerical ability, spatial visualization, memory,

reasoning, perceptual speed, and word fluency.

2. **Factor Analysis:** Thurstone developed factor

analysis as a statistical method to analyze the

correlations among different cognitive tests and

identify the underlying factors that explained these

correlations. By applying factor analysis to

Thurstone: mathematical technique of factor

analysis to study problems and factors,

which would be part of intelligence