This article discusses how giftedness is currently defined and presents an alternative view based on a balance theory of wisdom. The theory is described as a useful way of conceptualizing wisdom. Sources of differences in wisdom and the need for development of wisdom as a form of giftedness are addressed. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

There is no accepted definition and no adequate measure for the concept of Emotional Intelligence (EI). Some of the myriad issues surrounding EI are discussed here. One problem in the consideration of EI is the confusion between the terms "feelings" and "emotions." Differences between the two are examined and a working definition of feelings is…

Persons representing the extremes of intelligence cannot be included in the same study unless they are approximately equated on mental age, in which case the relative performances of the extreme groups can provide useful information about the nature of intelligence. (Author/RD)

Milkman (TM 504 643) accuses Arthur Jensen of misapplying heritability data in speculating on the causes of racial differences in intelligence test scores, and offers a method for illuminating Jensen's alleged error. It is contended in this article that Milkman has misconstrued Jensen's argument and that his method is without point. (Author/CTM)

Very close age spacing was an obstacle to high academic performance for later borns. In family relations and self-esteem, first borns scored better and performed in school as well as their potentially much more able younger siblings, regardless of age spacing. (Author)

This article reviews sex studies of children of cousin marriages and three studies of children of incestuous matings. It is argued that these studies, taken as a whole, provide no substantial evidence for an inbreeding depression effect within the polygenic system commonly asserted to determine IQ. (Author/DB)

This article illustrates the use of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to explicate constructs underlying performance assessment tasks based on Gardner's (1993) theory of multiple intelligences. Data from Plucker, Callahan, and Tomchin (1996) were reanalyzed using CFA. A model with three factors that combined linguistic and interpersonal…

Criticizes claims in "The Bell Curve" that a high value for heritability of intelligence constrains the extent to which environmental changes can increase intelligence. Cites adoption studies and the increasing intelligence of successive cohorts of U.S. children as evidence that intelligence can increase substantially without heroic…

Criticizes Herrnstein and Murray for their lack of respect for the truth, displayed throughout "The Bell Curve"; their willingness to encourage disharmony between groups they identify as cognitively different and to foment fear and distrust of an alleged underclass portrayed as dangerous and beyond help; and their lack of interest in…

This article explores what the concept of intellectual character offers that traditional views of intelligence based on abilities do not. The origins of the concept of thinking dispositions are traced and various views regarding the dispositions that might comprise and define one's intellectual character are investigated. Educational implications…

As a response to recent public debate about the nature of intelligence, this article reviews the "state of the art" in the study of intelligence, exploring significant conceptualizations of intelligence, the use and interpretation of intelligence tests, racial or ethnic differences in intelligence, and major issues yet to be resolved.…

Describes the origin and development of the variability hypothesis as applied to the study of social and psychological sex differences. Explores changes in the hypothesis over time, social and scientific factors that fostered its acceptance, and possible parallels between the variability hypothesis and contemporary theories of sex differences.…

Challenges Jensen's arguments (set forth in the book "Bias in Mental Testing") that intelligence tests are scientifically unbiased and that IQ and other mental tests measure something called "intelligence" by refuting Jensen's reading of the psychometric research literature. (EF)

Although the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) involves modifications and a complete restandardization, the literature suggests that it remains very similar in nature to its predecessor, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC). Individuals perform on the WISC-R largely the same as they do on the WISC. (Author)

Sets of randomly generated numbers are used to produce simulated data sets to illustrate that high heritability of a property within each of two populations may be consistent with a vanishingly small heritability in the combined population. (A response by Jensen appears in the next issue of Journal of Educational Statistics, p.385). (CTM)