What does Spearman's concept of the g factor refer to?

Spearman's concept of the g factor refers to the idea of a general intelligence factor that underlies performance across various cognitive tasks. According to Spearman, individuals who performed well in one area of intellectual functioning, such as verbal skills, were likely to also perform well in other areas, such as mathematical reasoning. This concept suggests that general intelligence, or g, contributes to the ability to solve problems and think critically in diverse contexts, rather than being limited to specific abilities or talents.

The notion of g highlights the idea that there is a shared underlying cognitive capability that influences performance in multiple domains, which has been a significant perspective in the study of intelligence. This model supports the idea that intelligence is not just a collection of independent skills but rather a complex, interrelated characteristic of an individual’s cognitive abilities.