The triadic theory describes the relationship of intelligence with three dimensions of the person, areas that the author calls subtheories. They describe below:
- The component sub-theory has to do with the internal world of the individual, with analytical and academic thinking. Research, plan and execute.
- The experiential sub-theory explains your relationship with the external world, the way you handle your experience in everyday situations, your creative thinking. Look for originality and innovation.
- The contextual subcategory refers to the way in which the individual moves in his environment, practical (smart street), adaptive and successful thinking. It involves problem solving.
From the triadic theory of intelligence, Sternberg and Grigorenko developed another theory, which they called the theory of mental self-government (published in 1997). It can be related to learning because it studies the way in which people direct their efforts and their intellectual preferences. (Lozano, 2000).
There are theories that consider it a single general capacity, or a set of hierarchical capacities subordinate to a basic capacity, while other theorists see that this concept is a more or less independent set of capacities that allow us to adapt successfully. One of the existing theories that attempt to explain how intelligence is structured is Robert J. Sternberg's triatric theory of intelligence.
Para explicar su teoría, utilizaron la metáfora de los poderes del gobierno, ya que, en palabras de Sternberg (1997) “la esencia de la inteligencia es proporcionar los medios para gobernarse a nosotros mismos, para que nuestros pensamientos y acciones sean organizados, coherentes y adecuados, tanto para nuestras necesidades internas como para las necesidades del entorno, por lo tanto, se puede considerar que la inteligencia hace por el individuo lo que un gobierno hace por la comunidad “.
