Abstract
Traditional models of intelligence have emphasized accumulation and
measurement of knowledge, often overlooking the critical role of organization and
retrieval. This paper introduces “contagious intelligence” as a framework that
integrates multidimensional intelligences with the concept of “indexing”—the
architecture for storing, retrieving, and applying knowledge. Drawing on
psychological, neuroscientific, and educational literature, we argue that indexing is
the overlooked imperative in intelligence theories, enabling adaptability and
transmission of cognitive capacities. Through a synthesis of existing models (e.g.,
multiple intelligences, emotional intelligence) and novel categorizations (e.g., life
indexers vs. mass indexers), we explore how indexing facilitates collaboration,
neurodiversity, and human-AI symbiosis. Ethical implications and future directions
for education and research are discussed, emphasizing the contagious nature of
indexing practices in an AI-augmented world.
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