Naturalist Intelligence
Recognition, appreciation, and understanding of the natural world around us. It involves such capacities as species discernment and discrimination, the ability to recognize and classify various flora and fauna, and our knowledge of and communion with the natural world.
HOBBIES
Collecting things (particularly butterflies, flowers, leaves, insects - but also other, less "natural" things)
Keeping a pet
Fishing
Gardening
Birdwatching
Watching nature programmes on TV
Archaeology
Trainspotting (! - especially if also logical)
CHARACTERISTICS
Interested in aspects of the natural world (animals, plants, insects, archaeology, dinosaurs, etc.).
Fascinated by animals and their behaviour.
Observant: noticing difference in detail.
Groups, classifies and cross-references information.
May "understand" animals.
May have "green fingers".
May be well-organised.
STUDY TIPS
Keep your notes in clear plastic pockets in a ring-binder and re-arrange them regularly.
Find a quiet spot in the garden to do your study or revision
Collect articles and clippings from newspapers and magazines, leaflets, posters, etc. and add these to your file.
If you have a pet, cuddle or play with it while you revise.
CAREERS
Animal care.
Animal training.
Veterinary science.
Biological science.,/p>
Farming & market gardening.
Gardening.
Florist.
Environmental science.
Forestry.
Food science.
Wine merchant.
Archaeology.
Museums and galleries.
Library & information services.
Warehousing.
Fashion, sports and leisure retail.
DEVELOPING NATURALIST INTELLIGENCE
Visit the countryside and allow yourself time to appreciate its colours, sounds, smells, textures, etc.
Visit a garden centre and do the same.
Visit a zoo, looking for similarities and differences between animals. How would you group them?
Take up gardening.
EXAMPLES
Temple Grandin, although autistic, is Assistant Professor in Animal Sciences at Colorado State University. Although she relates uneasily to humans, she is an expert on animal behaviour (particularly cattle) with an intuitive recognition of their moods and a passionate concern for their welfare.
Sir Peter Scott, founder of WWF, was probably dyslexic (he was a slow reader throughout his life and never comfortable with writing) but demonstrated a natural affinity with all aspects of the natural world.
Charles Darwin (biologist)
Linnaeus (originator of the biological classification system)
David Bellamy (TV biologist)
David Attenborough
BRAIN STUFF
There is at least one example of a U.S. male who, as the result of localised brain damage, is unable to recall the names and features of animals, despite being otherwise totally unaffected.
Our ability to recognise faces may be closely allied to Naturalist Intelligence. Prosopagnosia (the inability to recognise faces) is a well-defined medical / psychological phenomenon.