Charles Spearman, a British psychologist, proposed a groundbreaking theory of intelligence known as the two-factor theory. This theory suggests that intelligence comprises two primary factors:
General Intelligence (g): This factor represents a broad mental capacity that influences performance across various cognitive abilities, such as verbal, spatial, numerical, and mechanical reasoning. Spearman observed that individuals who excelled in one area of intelligence often performed well in others as well, leading him to postulate the existence of this underlying general factor.
Specific Abilities (s): These are skills or talents that are specific to particular tasks or domains. While general intelligence provides a foundation, specific abilities allow individuals to specialize and excel in particular areas. For example, someone might have a high level of general intelligence but possess exceptional specific abilities in music or mathematics
