Bilingualism and intelligence, personality and creativity

Although throughout history many cultures have disseminated the myth that bilingualism has negative psychological effects, scientific research in recent decades clearly suggests that mastering more than one language actually has positive consequences.

In this article we will describe the relationship of multilingualism with intelligence, personality and creativity. As we will see, speaking more than one language produces changes at the mental level mainly through the improvement of cognitive flexibility and abstract reasoning.

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Defining bilingualism and multilingualism

It is said that a person is multilingual when they can communicate naturally in more than one language, especially if they have acquired the skills at an early age. When someone speaks two languages ​​we speak of bilingualism, those who know three languages ​​are trilingual, etc.

There is debate about the degree of proficiency that is required to be able to consider that someone is multilingual. Many experts narrow the definition to the ability to speak reasonably fluently for a second language, while others consider that a great knowledge of at least two languages ​​is required. languages.

They have existed for a long time prejudices regarding the psychological effects of bilingualism in traditionally monolingual cultures; bilingual people were attributed a intelligence lower level, less command of languages ​​and moral and character alterations.

The first investigations on multilingualism confirmed this type of perspective, although they had serious methodological problems that invalidated their results. More stringent studies carried out later not only refuted these hypotheses but also showed that bilingualism may have beneficial effects on cognition.

However, it must be taken into account that many of these benefits are rather a consequence of multiculturalism, a natural result of learning several languages. Knowing more than one language facilitates familiarization with different perspectives and improves abstract thinking, since multilingualism requires complex conceptual reasoning.

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Types of bilingualism

Cummins made a proposal known as the "threshold hypothesis." According to this author, bilingualism can have positive or negative effects depending on the degree of competence in the languages ​​and different psychosocial variables, such as the prestige of both languages.

Thus, Cummins posited that bilingual people who do not reach a minimum threshold in both languages they can suffer negative effects; in these cases we would speak of subtractive bilingualism. Subsequent research has suggested that bilinguals with low language proficiency may have a slight disadvantage in arithmetic.

On the other hand, when the upper threshold of linguistic competence is exceeded, additive bilingualism, which positively influences cognition, as we will see below. These effects are more intense the greater the mastery of languages.

Multilingualism, cognition and intelligence

The investigation reveals that the cognitive structure of bilingual people is different that of the monolinguals. Specifically, the intelligence quotient is explained by a greater number of factors; this means that cognitive abilities are more diversified in those who learn more than one language during their development.

In addition, multilingualism has been related to greater cognitive flexibility. This means that bilingual people tend to have more ability to find alternative solutions to problems and choose the best option among those available.

On the other hand, as we have already mentioned, multilingualism favors the development of abstract reasoning and the handling of concepts. This has been attributed to increased awareness of the fact that words do not designate absolute realities but they have an important arbitrary component.

Consequently, multilinguals would have a greater ability to focus on structures instead of the elements that form them, as well as to reorganize them. This includes a verbal dimension but also involves perception.

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Influence on personality

Many multilingual people report that their personality changes depending on the language they use; these changes have been confirmed by some studies. However, in general they are attributed to the adoption of a different contextual framework depending on the culture to which each language is associated, which would be independent of the language used.

However the hypotheses of linguistic relativity They affirm that language influences the way of thinking and feeling. Thus, learning more than one language could facilitate the development of different facets of personality. In addition, it is believed that speaking in the second language causes many bilinguals to leave social conventions aside.

On the other hand, the social context can influence personality and psychological well-being through the attitude towards bilingualism. For example, Latin American children could be looked down on in the United States because they speak a different language; these kinds of situations also interfere with normal language learning.

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Relationship with creativity

The beneficial effects of bilingualism in the creativityare associated with cognitive flexibility. The ability to take different perspectives and reorganize mental contents produces improvements clear in creativity, especially in people who have a high mastery of more than one language

J. Q. guilford he described two types of reasoning: convergent and divergent. Whereas convergent thinking is sequential (moves “in a straight line”), divergent reasoning explores multiple alternatives in a more spontaneous way and is based on the relationships between the set and the elements that make it up. make up.

The concept of divergent reasoning is very close to that of creativity.. Measures of cognitive fluency, flexibility, and originality, which Guilford defined as core reasoning skills divergent and creative process, have consistently been shown to be higher on average in multilingual people than in non-linguals. monolingual.