Chapter 12 Attention, working memory and arousal: Concepts apt to account for the “process of intelligence”

Abstract

The chapter presents a model of intelligence that combines the trait stance with the information-processing approach. The model assumes the existence of some structural determinants of intelligent behavior—the structural limitations of attention and working memory—as foundations of the stable trait of intelligence. The structural limitations define the absolute capability of an individual, whereas the actual level of arousal defines the actual ability to deal with certain cognitive tasks in certain circumstances. The chapter describes a new theoretical model of “the process of intelligence.” “The process of intelligence” is defined in terms of the way in which a person deals with cognitive task while being determined by both stable structural limitations and constantly changing level of arousal. The empirical verification of the basic assumptions and propositions of the model are presented. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the validity of the proposed model of intelligence as well as its relevance for the cognitive science approach.