general intelligence (g)

General intelligence, often called "g," is a theoretical concept that reflects a person's overall cognitive ability. It suggests that various mental skills—like reasoning, problem-solving, memory, and verbal understanding—are interconnected and influenced by a common underlying factor. Essentially, if someone scores high in one area, they're likely to perform well in others, indicating a broad mental capability. "g" helps explain why people tend to have consistent levels of intelligence across different tasks. It provides a framework for understanding individual differences in cognitive performance and how various skills relate to overall mental functioning.