Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T21:04:51.825Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

G and g: Two markers of a general cognitive ability, or none?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 August 2017

Charles Locurto
Charles Locurto*
Affiliation:
College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA 01610clocurto@holycross.edu
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The search for general processes that underlie intelligence in nonhumans has followed two strategies: one that concerns observing differences between nonhuman species (G), the second that concerns observing individual differences within a nonhuman species (g). This commentary takes issue with both attempts to mark a general factor: Differential responding to contextual variables compromises the search for G, and the lack of predictive validity compromises g.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 40 , 2017 , e211
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anastasi, A. (1961) Psychological testing (3rd edition). Macmillan.Google Scholar
Gottfredson, L. S. (1997) Mainstream science on intelligence: An editorial with 52 signatories, history, and bibliography. Intelligence 24:13–23.Google Scholar
Locurto, C. (1991) Sense and nonsense about IQ: The case for uniqueness. Praeger Press.Google Scholar
Locurto, C. (1997) On the comparative generality of g . In: Advances in cognition and education, vol. 4: Reflections on the concept of intelligence, ed. Tomic, W. & Kigman, J., pp. 79–100. JAI Press.Google Scholar
Locurto, C. & Scanlon, C. (1998) Individual differences and a spatial learning factor in two strains of mice (Mus musculus). Journal of Comparative Psychology 112(4):344–52.Google Scholar
Locurto, C., Benoit, A., Crowley, C. & Miele, A. R. (2006) The structure of individual differences in batteries of rapid acquisition tasks in mice. Journal of Comparative Psychology 120:378–88.Google Scholar
Mackintosh, N. J. (1998) IQ and human intelligence. Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Macphail, E. M. (1982) Brain and intelligence in vertebrates. Clarendon Press.Google Scholar
Macphail, E. M. (1987) The comparative psychology of intelligence. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 10:645–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matzel, L. D., Wass, C. & Kolata, S. (2011b) Individual differences in animal intelligence: Learning, reasoning, selective attention and inter-species conservation of a cognitive trait. International Journal of Comparative Psychology 24:36–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sauce, B., Wass, C., Smith, A., Kwan, S. & Matzel, L. D. (2014) The external-internal loop of interference: Two types of attention and their influence on the learning abilities of mice. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 116:181–92.Google Scholar
Spearman, C. (1904) “General intelligence,” objectively determined and measured. The American Journal of Psychology 15:201–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spearman, C. (1927) The abilities of man. Macmillan.Google Scholar