What is the general intelligence factor known as in Spearman's theory?

In Spearman's theory of intelligence, the general intelligence factor is commonly referred to as 'g'. This concept encapsulates the idea that a single underlying factor influences performance across different cognitive tasks. According to Spearman, individuals who perform well in one area of intelligence, such as verbal ability, are likely to perform well in other areas, such as mathematical reasoning, due to this shared general factor.

This notion of 'g' supports the idea that intelligence is not just a collection of different skills but rather a cohesive construct that can be measured and compared among individuals. The impact of 'g' can be observed in various areas, such as academic performance and cognitive assessments, where it consistently accounts for a significant portion of the variance in test scores.

The other possible terms, such as 'q', 'c', and 'm', do not have the same established significance in the context of intelligence theory and are not associated with Spearman's model. Thus, the association of 'g' with general intelligence is well-recognized and a foundational element in psychometric evaluations and theories of intelligence.