What term describes the capacity to learn new ways of solving problems?

The capacity to learn new ways of solving problems is best described by the term fluid intelligence. Fluid intelligence refers to the ability to think abstractly, reason, identify patterns, solve problems, and comprehend complex ideas. It encompasses the skills necessary for adapting to new situations and learning from experiences, making it essential for problem-solving in unfamiliar circumstances.

While cognitive flexibility relates to the mental ability to switch between thinking about different concepts, adaptive learning refers to a personalized teaching approach that adjusts to an individual’s needs and abilities. Crystallized intelligence, on the other hand, involves the knowledge and skills that come from prior learning and experiences, which are typically more stable over time. In contrast, fluid intelligence is focused more on the ability to tackle novel problems, thereby aligning closely with the question about learning new problem-solving methods.