What Does It Mean to Have Naturalistic Intelligence?

Signs of naturalistic intelligence and how to cultivate it

Co-authored by Ali Garbacz, B.A. Reviewed by Allison Broennimann, PhD

Last Updated: May 1, 2024 References

Definition

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Traits of a Naturalistically Intelligent Person

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How to Develop Naturalistic Intelligence

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Skills Strengthened by Naturalistic Intelligence

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Other Intelligence Types

If you like being outdoors, caring for plants and animals, and observing the world around you, you might have a very strong naturalistic intelligence. There are many different ways individuals take in and learn information, with a unique combination of perceiving and sensing through the natural world being a characteristic of naturalistic intelligence. ^{[1]
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Expert Source

Allison Broennimann, PhD
Clinical Psychologist

Expert Interview} In this article, we’ll walk you through common characteristics of people with highly developed naturalistic intelligence and activities you can do to help strengthen your naturalistic intelligence. Once you’re finished reading, you’ll be well-educated about this unique pattern of learning.

Things You Should Know

If you have a highly developed naturalistic intelligence, you enjoy being surrounded by nature, are good at categorizing and identifying objects, and can easily spot patterns.
Some activities that can improve your naturalistic intelligence include going on nature walks, practicing identifying plants and animals, and watching shows related to nature.
Your naturalistic intelligence teaches you important skills like empathy, curiosity, and sensitivity to your surrounding environment.

Section 1 of 5:

What is naturalistic intelligence?

Naturalistic intelligence is the ability to identify and classify things in nature. The concept of naturalistic intelligence comes from the theory of multiple intelligences, developed by Howard Gardner, Ph.D., in 1983. If you have a strong naturalistic intelligence, you likely have a deep respect and empathy for nature and are good at classifying organisms and detecting patterns and changes in the world around you. ^{[2]
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- Multiple intelligences refer to the various ways people learn and acquire information. Educators often incorporate this theory when teaching young children to help them develop multiple ways of learning.
- There are a total of 8 multiple intelligences. Everyone possesses all 8 multiple intelligences, but each individual has their own unique strengths and weaknesses. ^{[3]
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- Famous individuals who had highly developed naturalistic intelligence include Charles Darwin, Jacques Cousteau, Alexander von Humboldt, and Carl Sagan.
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Section 2 of 5:

Traits of a Naturalistically Intelligent Person

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Enjoys being out in nature If you have a stronger naturalistic intelligence, you probably like being in the greatee outdoors. You may enjoy taking walks, studying outside, or simply sitting out in your backyard and observing the various plants and animals around you. ^{[4]
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- You might also enjoy outdoor activities like camping, hiking, rock climbing, and fishing.
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Has deep respect and love for nature You likely not only enjoy being out in nature but also feel a deep connection to the natural world. ^{[5]
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Expert Source

Allison Broennimann, PhD
Clinical Psychologist

Expert Interview} You might feel a deep sense of empathy toward the various animals and plants around you and are probably extra careful compared to others when handling living things.
- Because of this empathy, you might be more sensitive than others to environmental issues like species endangerment and pollution.
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Desires to know more about the natural world Your naturalistic intelligence also comes with a burning curiosity to know all about how the world works and how everything connects. You’re likely equally good at observing each individual organism out in nature and seeing how they fit into the bigger picture.
- You may be curious about the origins of certain species, why they behave the way they do, and how certain organisms differ from one another.
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Easily categorizes and classifies items Even from a young age, you might have been really good at placing things into categories and organizing items by their physical traits, behaviors, or other distinguishing features. Because of this passion and natural strength, you may more easily pay attention to and memorize different groups of plants, animals, and other things in nature.[ ^{[6]
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Research source} ^{[7]
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Expert Source

Allison Broennimann, PhD
Clinical Psychologist

Expert Interview}
- You may also enjoy collecting items and organizing them into categories. Your collection might include things like rocks, feathers, or flowers.
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Notices patterns and changes in the surrounding environment Your naturalistic intelligence might make you particularly sensitive to changes in the world around you. This helps you detect patterns a lot easier than others, such as patterns in another person or animal’s behavior or changes in the climate. ^{[8]
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Research source} Because of this strength and ability to memorize and attune more quickly in nature, you will likely be quicker to observe changes in your environment around you. ^{[9]
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Expert Source

Allison Broennimann, PhD
Clinical Psychologist

Expert Interview}
- A unique combination of perceiving and sensing through the natural world is a characteristic of naturalistic intelligence. ^{[10]
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  Expert Source
  
  Allison Broennimann, PhD
  Clinical Psychologist
  
  Expert Interview}
- You might notice that you have a highly-developed level of sensory perception, meaning your senses of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch are more sensitive.
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Excels in courses related to nature It makes sense that a person who enjoys nature would thrive in subjects that focus on the natural world. ^{[11]
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Expert Source

Allison Broennimann, PhD
Clinical Psychologist

Expert Interview} Subjects like zoology, biology, botany, geology, meteorology, and paleontology are all things you might enjoy and find to be super interesting. ^{[12]
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- Similarly, your naturalistic intelligence might make nature-related careers more appealing to them.
- Some careers you might enjoy include marine biology, nature photography, zoology, landscape architecture, farming, and conservation biology. ^{[13]
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Enjoys caring for plants and animals Your attunement for nature makes you the perfect person to take care of plants and animals. ^{[14]
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Expert Source

Allison Broennimann, PhD
Clinical Psychologist

Expert Interview} You may have your own backyard garden and likely have more than a few pets keeping you company at home. ^{[15]
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- You might also enjoy volunteering at animal shelters or helping maintain a community garden in your spare time.
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Environmentally conscious Because you likely hold so much respect and love for nature, you might also be particularly adamant about preserving the earth’s beauty and biodiversity. You may join organizations and non-profits that focus on sustainability and preserving the earth, and you might even have taken on leadership roles to spread the message. ^{[16]
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- Children who are naturalistically intelligent might enjoy being in groups like the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts which encourage respect for nature and wildlife.
When it’s time to choose a program to watch, you’re most likely to pick something from National Geographic or the Discovery channel. You probably love to watch documentaries that revolve around nature and read stories and articles that focus on the environment. ^{[17]
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Section 3 of 5:

How to Develop Naturalistic Intelligence

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Go on a nature walk. There’s no better way to strengthen your natural intelligence than actually being out in nature. Go outside on a nature walk and stop every now and then to observe different plants and animals in their natural habitats. If you have a nearby nature trail or forest preserve, you’ll probably come across even more interesting sights. However, even just a walk in your backyard or around your neighborhood can be very refreshing and eye-opening.
- For teachers, have your students point out things they see and encourage them to share their observations with each other or write them down.
- As you walk, use apps like Seek by iNaturalist to enhance your learning as you go. ^{[18]
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  Allison Broennimann, PhD
  Clinical Psychologist
  
  Expert Interview}
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Care for a pet. Adopting and taking care of a pet might be just the right move to help you develop your naturalistic intelligence. Looking after a pet not only teaches responsibility but also helps you to develop feelings of empathy towards animals. This is also one way to observe animal behavior, which is something that many naturalistically intelligent people tend to be curious about.
- If you’re hesitating on adopting a pet right away, consider fostering a pet first . This can act as a test run to let you see how you can manage with a new furry friend in your home.
- Even caring for small pets like fish, hermit crabs, or hamsters can be beneficial in developing a person’s naturalistic intelligence.
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Start a garden. If you have room in your yard, start a vegetable garden or plant some flowers. Planting the seeds and watching them turn into beautiful flowers or fresh vegetables is incredibly rewarding and can also teach you to be responsible toward nature. If you don’t have room in your yard, see if you can participate in a community garden or start your own. ^{[19]
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- Another option is to grow houseplants if you don’t have room outside.
- If you’re a teacher, one idea is to have students grow flowers in the classroom and make daily or weekly observations about them.
These are great places to observe animals and plants and learn more detailed information about them from professional handlers and guides. For teachers, see if you can organize a field trip to one of these places. When you go, have students write down new information they learn and maybe have them create a project focussing on their experience when you return to the classroom. ^{[20]
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Practice identifying and classifying different organisms. Go outside and spend some time practicing naming the various plants and animals you see. To make things even more fun, pick a random square of land and outline it with a piece of string or some sticks. Then, identify and count the different organisms inside it. Just make sure that you’re choosing a spot with diverse organisms instead of just a plot of plain grass or gravel.
- For teachers, have your students pick their own spots to observe and then have them share their findings with one another.
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Create a journal to write down observations about nature. Create your very own nature journal and use it to write about the things you see, hear, smell, and feel when you go outside. Draw pictures of the plants and animals you see, write short entries about the weather, or jot down any thoughts that pop up while you spend time in the great outdoors. ^{[21]
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- Keep your learning going by researching more about the things you’ve written down in your journal. For example, search on the internet or in books to learn more about any animals or plants you’ve documented.
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Do hands-on activities with various tools to interact with nature. Developing your naturalistic intelligence isn’t just about observing nature but also directly interacting with it. If you have a microscope , magnifying glass, or some binoculars , use these tools to get a closer look at various plants and animals. For example, use a pair of binoculars to go bird watching, or place the petal of a flower under a microscope to see its patterns more clearly. ^{[22]
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- If you’re a teacher or parent, use this as an opportunity to teach your kids how to use a microscope.
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Draw or photograph things in nature. Draw colorful pictures of your surroundings or take pictures using a camera or phone to stimulate your artistic side. Other creative projects you might enjoy include things like making dioramas, creating collages, and painting.
- Doing things like writing poetry and short stories about nature allows you to use your words in an equally creative way.
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Collect and categorize items from nature. Rocks, feathers, leaves, and flowers are all things you might collect and then organize in various ways. Start off grouping things by color, then go by height or length, then organize them one more time by type. This is a great exercise to strengthen your ability to identify patterns and categorize various items. ^{[23]
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- Display your collection by making a shadow box. Or, press flowers and leaves and put them in binders.
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Join an organization dedicated to environmental protection. Get involved in organizations like Greenpeace and become an active participant in preserving the environment. If you have kids or students, find organizations that are targeted toward children. Getting out in the community and participating in activities that center around conserving the planet will teach kids empathy and help them become more environmentally conscious. ^{[24]
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- For example, the National Wildlife Federation has programs made specifically for children and also works to collaborate with teachers and students.
- Kids for Saving Earth is an organization that provides educational materials and fun projects about protecting the planet.
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Watch shows and read books about nature. When it’s time to turn on the TV, switch things up by putting on a fun and interesting nature program or documentary. There are all kinds of subjects these shows and movies might cover, such as wildlife documentaries about animals, complete histories of Earth, and travel documentaries in exotic places. ^{[25]
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- For example, pick up a copy of National Geographic magazine to read about natural phenomena all around the world and see some stunning pictures.
- If you’re in the mood to watch something inspiring, check out the National Geographic documentary Jane which focuses on the astounding work of conservationist Jane Goodall.
- Introduce your child to picture books or short stories that involve nature or have animals as the main characters. Short, easy-to-read articles from kids' magazines are also a great option.
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Talk to people in nature-related professions. Reach out to friends, family, or other people in your community who work in professions related to nature. Ask them about their experiences, what their views on nature and the environment are, and what they’ve learned from their work. Who knows? You might even find a profession that you may want to pursue in the future. ^{[26]
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- Another option is to watch videos on YouTube or documentaries about people like marine biologists, zoologists, and nature conservationists doing their jobs and talking about their work.
- If you’re a teacher, bring in some professionals who work in environment-related fields to talk to your students for a fun career day.
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Section 4 of 5:

Skills Strengthened by Naturalistic Intelligence

Naturalistic intelligence is all about being able to observe patterns and changes in the surrounding environment. Your natural intelligence makes you great at observing even the smallest of details, finding patterns, and making connections between observations. ^{[27]
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Your empathy for other people and living beings increases the more you develop your naturalistic intelligence. Being surrounded by nature and interacting with it can cause you to develop an emotional connection to the various forms of life that fill the planet, and you become a much more empathetic person because of it. ^{[28]
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Working to improve your naturalistic intelligence also makes you more sensitive to environmental issues, such as pollution and the endangerment of species. Such sensitivity might help you better understand concepts like sustainability and eco-efficiency. ^{[29]
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As a naturalistic person, you’re an eager learner and are always asking questions about how things work. You’re curious about the world around you and often like to go exploring to find new discoveries. ^{[30]
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Activities like collecting and sorting items, using various tools like magnifying glasses and microscopes to observe nature, and even taking a walk through nature are all things that will help you develop your motor skills. All of these activities are also great ways to keep your mind active. ^{[31]
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Section 5 of 5:

Other Intelligence Types

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Verbal-linguistic intelligence This is the ability to convey things through spoken language and writing. If you have high verbal-linguistic intelligence, you might also have an affinity for learning multiple languages. ^{[32]
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- Skills: Listening, speaking, writing, teaching
- Professions: Writer, translator, teacher, poet, lawyer
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Logical-mathematical intelligence If you have this intelligence, you’re more easily able to think in a conceptual or abstract way. You probably excel at detecting logical and numerical patterns. ^{[33]
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- Skills: Mathematics, solving riddles and puzzles
- Professions: Mathematician, statistician, engineer, computer programmer
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Visual-spatial intelligence This is your ability to think in images and pictures. You’re usually able to picture things both accurately and abstractly. ^{[34]
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- Skills: Painting, building things, designing
- Professions: Painter, sculptor, photographer, architect
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Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence This is your ability to control your body movements and handle objects with care and skill. If you have a higher-than-average bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, you might learn better through movement. ^{[35]
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- Skills: Sports, hands-on experiments, fine motor skills
- Professions: Physical therapist, actor, dancer, farmer, surgeon
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Musical intelligence This is the ability to recognize and remember auditory patterns. You might be able to recognize certain pitches and timbres as well. Gardner proposed that musical intelligence emerges earlier than other intelligences. ^{[36]
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- Skills: Singing, playing instruments, identifying rhythms
- Professions: Composer, sound engineer, music therapist, musical actor
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Interpersonal intelligence Interpersonal intelligence is your ability to understand and respond appropriately to others’ feelings, intentions, and desires. This intelligence may be more developed in people who interact with people on a daily basis, such as teachers or salespeople. ^{[37]
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- Skills: Empathizing, counseling, cooperating, negotiating
- Professions: Politician, entrepreneur, nurse, attorney
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Intrapersonal intelligence This is your ability to be in tune with your inner thoughts and emotions. If you have a strong intrapersonal intelligence, you’re likely able to better understand your thinking processes, desires, and values. ^{[38]
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- Skills: Self-reflection, time management, persistence
- Professions: Counselor, researcher, psychologist, writer
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Expert Source

Allison Broennimann, PhD
Clinical Psychologist

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What Does It Mean to Have Naturalistic Intelligence?

Things You Should Know

Steps

What is naturalistic intelligence?

Traits of a Naturalistically Intelligent Person

How to Develop Naturalistic Intelligence

Skills Strengthened by Naturalistic Intelligence

Other Intelligence Types

Expert Q&A

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References

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