The 'g factor,' or general intelligence factor, is a theoretical construct proposed by psychologist Charles Spearman. It suggests that a single, underlying intelligence influences an individual's performance across various cognitive tasks. In simpler terms, if you're good at one intellectual task, you're likely to be good at others because of this general intelligence. For undergraduates, this concept implies that some people have a higher overall cognitive ability that contributes to their performance in different academic and intellectual areas. It's a controversial yet influential idea in psychology, as it argues for a single, quantifiable measure of intelligence rather than multiple, distinct abilities.