Naturalistic intelligence is one of the eight intelligences that make up Howard Gardners Theory of Multiple Intelligences. It is the ability to appreciate, categorize, classify, explain, and connect the things of everyday life with nature. People with high naturalistic intelligence are interested in nurturing, exploring, and learning about the environment and other species. They are also said to be sensitive to even the most subtle changes in their environment, which helps them find patterns and relationships with nature.
According to Gardner, naturalistic intelligence is the ability to identify, classify, and manipulate elements of the environment, objects, animals, or plants. This type of intelligence is present in people who know how to observe nature, classify elements of the environment, and use this knowledge productively. It is considered that naturalistic intelligence developed in the times of the first human beings, when survival depended on recognizing useful and dangerous species, on observing the climate, on reading the land, and on expanding the range of resources available for food.
People with high naturalistic intelligence have the following characteristics:
- They express a desire to understand how things work.
- They care about the environment and like to be in touch with nature.
- They are inquisitive and curious.
- They enjoy outdoor activities like camping and hiking.
- They have a deep interest in and fascination with something in nature and are driven to investigate and become an "expert" in a particular natural subject.
- They are skilled and confident and comfortable in the natural world.
- They have a keen awareness of the natural world and phenomena, discriminate natural items like animals, insects, birds, fish, rocks, minerals, plants, trees, flowers, stars, or planets.
Naturalistic intelligence is closely associated with loving and caring for animals. People with this intelligence type often adopt pets or work in careers that allow them to care for animals. It also helps develop empathy for animals and natural life.
Teachers can help their students develop or enhance their naturalistic intelligence by providing learning experiences that encourage working and learning in or with the natural world. The point is not that schools should only teach to the naturalist intelligence, but rather that we should be teaching to all eight (or nine) intelligences.
