Final answer:
Robert Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence comprises three facets: practical, creative, and analytical intelligence, emphasizing different aspects of intelligence beyond traditional IQ tests.
Step-by-step explanation:
The triarchic theory of intelligence, developed by Robert Sternberg, conceptualizes intelligence as comprising three facets: practical, creative, and analytical intelligence. Practical intelligence refers to the savvy one might associate with 'street smarts'—the ability to navigate everyday life by drawing on experience-based knowledge. Creative intelligence signifies the capacity for innovation and coping with novel situations.
Meanwhile, analytical intelligence aligns with academic skills such as problem-solving, evaluation, and comparison, akin to the analysis required when tackling complex subjects or understanding a challenging math problem. This theory stands out among intelligence models by emphasizing the multiplicity and interplay of different types of intelligence beyond traditional IQ measures.
Sternberg's proposal helps identify the difference between intelligence theories by highlighting other components of intelligence not accounted for in more general or unitary conceptions. This contrasts with theories like Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory, which identifies eight independent types of intelligences, or Raymond Cattell's division of intelligence into crystallized and fluid forms.
Understanding the various theories of intelligence, including the triarchic theory, provides insight into the complex nature of intelligence, such as emotional intelligence and the ambiguous but significant role of creativity within it.