The Differences Between Multipotentiality and Multiple Intelligences

The concept of multipotentiality, often discussed in France, refers to individuals who possess a wide range of interests and skills, enabling them to adapt successfully to various fields. This term is sometimes used in parallel with Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, which posits that human intelligence is composed of several distinct modalities, such as linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical intelligences, etc. However, it is crucial to distinguish these two concepts. While multiple intelligences focus on specific and measurable cognitive abilities, multipotentiality refers to a psychological disposition and functional versatility that transcends these categories, involving the ability to excel in multiple areas due to interest or choice rather than specific cognitive aptitude. Emilie Wapnick, who popularized the term "multipotentiality" in the Anglo-Saxon world, emphasizes that multipotential individuals are driven by curiosity and a desire to learn, often at a surface level, without necessarily reaching the level of specialization seen in Gardner's multiple intelligences. Thus, while both concepts recognize the diversity of human talents, multipotentiality is more focused on the diversity of interests and adaptive capabilities, whereas multiple intelligences concentrate on the diversification of measurable cognitive abilities.