Synopses & Reviews
In our society, the recognition of talent depends largely on idealized and entrenched perceptions of academic achievement and job performance. In Thinking Styles, psychologist Robert Sternberg argues that ability often goes unappreciated and uncultivated not because of lack of talent, but because of conflicting styles of thinking and learning. Using a variety of examples that range from scientific studies to personal anecdotes, Dr. Sternberg presents a theory of thinking styles that aims to explain why aptitude tests, school grades, and classroom performance often fail to identify real ability. He believes that criteria for intelligence in both school and the workplace are unfortunately based on the ability to conform rather than to learn. He takes this theory a step farther by stating that "achievement" can be a result of the compatability of personal and institutional thinking styles, and "failure" is too often a result of a conflict of thinking styles, rather than a lack of intelligence or aptitude. Dr. Sternberg presents his revolutionary ideas in a way that is accessible to any educated reader. This provocative book suggests a real change in how we measure achievement and will inspire educators, employers, and parents alike.
Review
"Sternberg is a prolific and insightful writer. The ideas contained in this book may be useful to educators, employers, and psychologists. The information provided may help those in a position to make decisions about the value of others' contributions more aware of stylistic differences that may have a great deal of impact on performance, but have very little to do with ability...[and] may help sensitize people to recognize the value of differences in mental self-government to help capitalize on those differences." Contemporary Psychology"[Sternberg's] examples are vivid and practical...Sternberg manages a clear, relatively jargon-free style and has organized his material in a user-friendly way." The Providence Sunday Journal"[Sternberg's] ideas are provocative...They help explain why some of the very brightest kids flourish only after they've left their days of drab schooling far behind." Teacher Magazine"A very readable book, which should interest a wide audience including upper-division undergraduates in education, psychology, and sociology." G.C. Gamst, Choice"This is a thoughtfully constructed book that undertakes a fresh look at cognitive styles....The book is enjoyable and essential for all students, educators, employers, researchers and others interested in cognition and intelligence." Roseanne L. Flores, Readings"In this stimulating and thought-provoking book, one of today's best-known psychologists provides a fascinating discussion of the many different ways people think and work today." Library and Information Science Annual
Synopsis
Psychologist Robert Sternberg argues that ability often goes unappreciated and uncultivated not because of lack of talent, but because of conflicting styles of thinking and learning. Using a variety of examples that range from scientific studies to personal anecdotes, Sternberg presents a theory of thinking styles that aims to explain why aptitude tests, school grades, and classroom performance often fail to identify real ability. This provocative book suggests real change in how we measure achievement, and will inspire many to assess their own thinking styles. Thinking Styles offers a complete theory of how different people think and learn. Combining personal anecdote with scientific study, Dr Sternberg examines the variety of ways in which people develop and use their talents, and he argues that academic and professional criteria of ability often confuse differences in thinking styles with differences in intelligence.
Synopsis
Using a variety of examples that range from scientific studies to personal anecdotes, Sternberg presents a controversial theory of thinking styles that aims to explain why aptitude tests, school grades, and classroom performance often fail to identify real ability.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 161-172) and index.
Table of Contents
Part I. The Nature of Thinking Styles: 1. What are thinking styles and why do we need them?; 2. Functions of mental self-government; 3. Forms of mental self-government; Part II. The Theory of Mental Self-government: 4. Levels, scope, and leanings of mental self-government; 5. Principles of styles of thinking; 6. The development of thinking styles; 7. Thinking styles in the classroom: what have we learned?; Part III. Thinking Styles in Home, School, and Society: 8. A capsule history of theory and research on styles; 9. Why a theory of mental self-government?