Howard Gardner is associated with which theory?

• A. The Theory of Humanism and Hierarchy of Needs.
• B. Frames of Mind, which theorized seven discrete intelligences.
• C. Spiral Curriculum.
• D. Operant conditioning.

Answer: (B)

Howard Gardner is famous for the idea that intelligence isn’t a single general ability but a set of distinct capabilities. In his work Frames of Mind, he outlined seven discrete intelligences, showing that people can be strong in one area while others vary, rather than everyone having the same overall IQ. The seven commonly cited types—linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal—highlight how different ways of thinking and learning can express themselves. This perspective helped shift educational thinking toward recognizing diverse strengths and designing activities that tap into multiple intelligences. The other options relate to different theories entirely—Maslow’s hierarchy of needs concerns motivation, Bruner’s Spiral Curriculum focuses on how knowledge is organized, and operant conditioning deals with learning through reinforcement.