For the most part, the book argues that cognition alone cannot give an account of how the mind works or how a person's intellect grows. This is the fundamental point that the book presents. Consideration of the interconnectedness of cognition, emotion, and motivation is required in order to give an explanation for the large range of reported differences in real intellectual performance among individuals, within individuals, and throughout stages of development. Explaining the wide range of differences observed is crucial. It encompasses and integrates a wide range of scientific discoveries and advancements, from cognitive and affective neurosciences to cultural psychology, and addresses fundamental issues of individual differences, developmental variability, and cross-cultural differences with regard to intellectual functioning and development. The author posits that biological factor and adaptation requirements essentially constrain human intellect, but other factors, such as social and cultural influences, can adjust it. The book summarizes and incorporates these theories. As an additional point of interest, the book proposes a novel approach to conducting research and developing theories on intellectual development and functioning.
