Firstly, Costa and Kallickís (2000) Habits of Mind challenges the notion of intelligence
as a single, pervasive, general mental ability (Spearman, 1904,1927). According to Costa
& Kallick, intelligence is not simply linked to test scores and academic ability, but
recognition is given to the role of non-academic, social-emotional factors in explaining
intelligence. As a framework of thinking attributes, Habits of Mind also moves beyond
the view of intelligence as an ìability on demandî as conceptualised in a number of
models of human intelligence (Guilford, 1967; Thurstone, 1938; Sternberg, 1985). In the
Habits of Mind framework, intelligence is about applying your abilities when you
become aware of what you are supposed to be doing, but it also includes the concepts of
sensitivity and inclination. According to Costa & Kallick (2000), being aware of the
appropriate moments to employ Habits of Mind, and motivating oneself to invest time
5
and energy to their use, is just as important as the possession of the actual mental abilities
themselves. Costa and Kallick (2000) argue that Habits of Mind serve academic
purposes, but also represent a toolkit for solving life dilemmas and responding to daily
demands.
Dewey (1933) could be argued as the founding father for Habits of Mind because he
promotes reflective thinking as a universal educational aim. Dewey theorises that
reflective thinking makes possible action with a conscious aim and that it also makes
possible systematic preparations and inventions. He argues that reflective thinking
enriches objects and events with meanings. Further to his argument on reflective
thinking, Dewey acknowledges the vital importance of attitudes such as openmindedness,
wholeheartedness and responsibility. He claims that the aim of education is
to weave into unity our personal attitudes and our knowledge of the principles of logical
reasoning, along with the skills to manipulate these logical thinking processes. Deweyís
work flows seamlessly into Habits of Mind such as Metacognition, Striving for Accuracy,
Thinking Flexibly and Creating, Imagining and Innovating