6005: Thinking Styles

About the Course:

In “Thinking Styles” psychologist Robert Sternberg argues that ability often goes unappreciated and unclutivated not because of lack of talent, but because of conflicting styles of thinking and learning. Using a variety of examples that range from scientific studies to personal anecdotes, Dr. Sternberg presents a theory of thinking styles that aims to explain why aptitude tests, school grades, and classroom performance often fail to identify real ability. He believes that criteria for intelligence in both school and the workplace are unfortunately based on the ability to conform rather than to learn.

Author

Sternberg, Robert, Ph.D.

About the Authors:

Dr. Sternberg is IBM Professor of Psychology and Education at Yale University. He has written extensively on the field of intelligence, and his research has gained him numerous honors including the Guggenheim and NSF Fellowships. Dr. Sternberg’s other titles include Successful Intelligence, Metaphors of the Mind, Beyond IQ, and Cupid’s Arrow.

Course Objectives:

1. To be able to understand the author’s proposed theory of thinking styles.

2. To be able to describe the 13 important thinking styles discussed by the author

3. To be able to discuss the major principles of thinking styles and suggest how they originate and develop in people