What differentiates the views of Spearman and Thurstone on intelligence?

In understanding the differentiation between Spearman's and Thurstone's views on intelligence, it's significant to note that Spearman proposed a theory that intelligence could be understood as a single, general ability often referred to as "g" (general intelligence). He theorized that this general intelligence underlies various specific cognitive abilities and that individuals' performance across different cognitive tasks could be attributed to their level of this single intelligence factor.

On the other hand, Thurstone challenged this idea by introducing a multi-factor approach to intelligence. He identified several distinct primary mental abilities rather than a single general intelligence. Thurstone’s emphasis was on the diversity of cognitive skills, suggesting that individuals could excel in some areas while not in others. This perspective moves away from the unitary concept of intelligence that Spearman advocated.

Thus, the distinction lies in Spearman’s belief in a unitary intelligence concept, while Thurstone presents a model with multiple independent abilities, reflecting a more nuanced understanding of cognitive capabilities.