PsychologyVariations in Psychological Attributes

Which of the following is NOT a part of Alfred Binet's definition of…

Which of the following is NOT a part of Alfred Binet's definition of intelligence?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → Ability to act purposefully

Option (1) Ability to judge well — Part of Binet's definition. Judging well is the first of the three abilities Binet named.

Option (2) Ability to act purposefully — Not part of Binet's definition. Acting purposefully comes from Wechsler's definition: the global and aggregate capacity to think rationally, act purposefully, and deal effectively with the environment.

Option (3) Ability to understand well — Part of Binet's definition. Understanding well is the second ability in his definition.

Option (4) Ability to reason well — Part of Binet's definition. Reasoning well completes Binet's set of three abilities.

NCERT (2026-27): “INTELLIGENCE …
Psychological notion of intelligence is quite different from the common sensical notion of intelligence. If you watch an intelligent person, you are likely to see in her/him attributes like mental alertness, ready wit, quickness in learning, and ability to understand relationships. The Oxford Dictionary explains intelligence as the power of perceiving, learning, understanding, and knowing. Early intelligence theorists also used these attributes in defining intelligence. Alfred Binet was one of the first psychologists who worked on intelligence. He defined intelligence as the ability to judge well, understand well, and reason well. Wechsler, whose intelligence tests are most widely used, understood intelligence in terms of its functionality, i.e. its value for adaptation to environment. He defined it as the global and aggregate capacity of an individual to think rationally, act purposefully, and to deal effectively with her/his environment. …”