FREE ESSAY ON HOW HAS PSYCHOLOGY HELPED US WITH LANGUAGE AND INTELLIGENCE

HOW HAS PSYCHOLOGY HELPED US WITH LANGUAGE AND INTELLIGENCE

How has Psychology Help us understand the concept of Language and Intelligence as related
to Human Beings?
Psychology, the study of behaviour and mental processes concerns itself with the reasons
organisms do what they do and how they behave in a particular way, For example why
acquired skills are not lost when learnt ; Why do children rebel against parents and, why
humans speak, love and fight each other. These examples of learning and behaviour are
directly related to intelligence and language in human beings.
It is said that language, foresight, musical skills and other hallmarks of intelligence
are connected through an underlying facility that enhances rapid movements. To most
observers, the essence of Intelligence is cleverness, a versatility in solving novel
problems. Jean Piaget, development psychologist, emphasized that Intelligence was the
sophisticated groping that we do, when not knowing what to do.
Neurobiologist Horace Barlow, framed the issue, by declaring that intelligence is all
about making a guess that discovers some new underlying order. This neatly covers a lot
of ground like finding a solution to a problem, or the logic of an argument, creating a
witty reply or by guessing what's likely to happen next.
Maybe we will never agree on a universal definition of Intelligence, because it is an
open ended word like consciousness and these concern the high end of our mental life. To
help us understand this, Psychologists such as Francis Galton (1822-1911), Alfred Binet
(1857-1911), Theodore Simon (1873) and Wechler et al, developed a series of tests to
determine strengths and weaknesses as well as an overall measure of I.Q.
Francis Galton was a pioneer in Intelligence testing . He proposed that people with high
sensory and other abilities, were better adapted for survival. He therefore saw them as
more intelligent then those of average abilities.
Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon together developed a test called the ( Simon Binet Test
), to assess the ability of children's performance at school. They developed a table used
to compare the mental age of a child to the actual age to produce the concept of I.Q. The
conclusion was that a particular intelligent person often seem quick and capable of
juggling many ideas at once.
Not to be outdone, Wechler developed intelligence scales for both adults and children
(WAIS & WISC). The scales are in two parts VERBAL AND PERFORMANCE, giving a clear picture
of the person's IQ; by identifying their strength and weaknesses in specific areas .The
information can be used in planning individualized instruction programs.
To help us understand the nature side of intelligence versus the nurture side
Psychologists Bouchard McGue (1981), and Harrell et al(1955) provided us with
correlations and comparisons . In the case of Bouchard and McGue the correlations thus
provided were:
Identical twins reared apart .72
Identical twins reared together .86 compared to
Non-identical twins reared together .60
Siblings reared apart .47
Then child and natural parent .50 while.
Then child and adopted parent .19
These results appear to strongly support the nature issue.
Numerous studies show or emphasizes the influences that environmental factors have on
Intelligence. Harrell et al (1955) compared two groups of enormously deprived, pregnant
women One group was given dietary supplement, the other none, the ages of 3 and 4yrs, the
supplement mother's children, scored higher than the other children.
Goldfaith (1944) and Skeels(1966) in their research concluded that children raised in
deprived orphanages often show serious intellectual deficits, but make marked progress,
if removed to a more stimulating environment.
Even though Intelligence can be determined through environment, researchers are finding
out that people change as they grow older, and their experiences in certain areas can be
optional.
These options in behaviour differ in various countries and in different times both
socially and culturally. But in all communities and in all times, they are alike in
having language. This essential connection between having language and being human is
said to be one of the reasons that those interested in studying human nature have always
been fascinated with language.
Language is the most defining feature of human intelligence for without syntax - the
orderly arrangement of verbal ideas humans will be a little more clever than a
chimpanzee.
To help us understand this neurobiologist Oliver Sacks took an eleven year old deaf boy
named Joseph who could not hear spoken language, nor was exposed to fluent sign language,
conducted tests on him and concluded, that because of Joseph's handicap, he did not have
that opportunity to learn syntax during the critical years of early childhood, he seemed
like an animal or an infant . Joseph seemed stuck in the present, confined to literal and
immediate perception, though made aware of this by a consciousness no infant could have.
Seeing Voices by Oliver Sacks.
From that study with Oliver Sacks, the question arises, Is the ability to learn language
innate or whether there is need to learn it? Noted Psychologist B.F Skinner help by
setting forth some ways in which language or speech is reinforced
(a) By a child imitating what is heard.
(b) Where a child produce a random sound, to which adults attach meaning .or.
(c) A correct sound in the presence of adults.
The conclusion is that language is learnt in the same way that a person learns everything
else, through the laws of operant conditioning ; selective reinforcements, shaping and
imitation. Other Psychologists such as Noam Chomsky (1968), gives more insight to help us
understand how language is acquired. His view is that humans possess a brain mechanism
for learning language. This he called the language Acquistion Device or LAD which enables
children to understand the rules of grammar, without being taught them. He concluded that
the ability to learn language is innate, that is, the ability to transform what is said
to what is meant and back again.
Research and animal studies have shown that language is that function which most clearly
distinguishes beasts from humans. To understand why humans are so intelligent, there must
be an understanding of how our ancestors remodeled the ape symbolic performances and
enhance it by inventing syntax.
Animal tests and studies have shown that chimpanzees use about thirty six (36) different
vocalizations to convey about three dozen different meanings. They may repeat a sound to
intensify its meaning but unlike humans, who string together meaningful sounds to make
meaningful words, they cannot do this.
It is believed that one of the most striking advances ever made is that chimpanzees can
achieve suprising levels of language comprehension when motivated by skilled teachers.
Take for instance the case of Kanzi a bonobo (pygmy chimpanzee) whom 
it is said can interpret sentences he has never heard before like Go to the office and
bring back the red ball, about as well as a 2-5yr old child. Neither Kanzi nor the child
constructs such sentences independently, but they can demonstrate by their actions that
they understand them. It is the firm belief that with possibly a year's experience in
comprehension, the child starts constructing sentences that set one word phrase inside
another . But will Kanzi be able to do this?
We humans do have a passion for stringing things together that is words into sentences,
notes into melodies; steps into dances etc. with rules of procedure. Might stringing
things together be a core facility of the brain, one commonly useful to language,
storytelling, planning ahead and others?
In 1874, Psychologist, William James suggested that ideas might somehow compete with one
another in the brain leaving only the best or the fittest. notwithstanding they question
is asked, Is Language uniquely human after all ?
A comparison was made between humans andanimals who seem to have language The apparent
ease with which humans acquire compared with apes, supports the suggestion that humans
are innately programmed to do so.
Similarly, although these chimps have grasped some of the rudiments of human language,
what they have learned and the speed at which they learn it is different in quality to
that of human beings. Psychological research has demonstrated this, in order that we may
understand it.
In referring to Kanzi, it is stated that his capacity for comprehension far outstrips his
capacity for producing language. When he is frustrated, he becomes quit 'vocal' in that
he makes high pitched squeaks. Is he trying to talk? If he could, then what would he
say?
We have seen that language plays a central part in the lives of human beings and
Intelligence is related to language. It takes intelligence to speak and this comes from
motives, ideas or feelings experienced privately, but cannot be seen unless they are
expressed. On the other hand, language, an expression of communication allows for
negative or positive behaviour.
Therefore to understand the concepts of language and Intelligence as related to human
beings, Psychology which is the science that uses systematic methods in observing,
describing, explaining and predicting behaviour and mental processes, should be applied.

Bibliography
References
1) All quotations are taken from the book PSYCHOLOGY, by LESTER M. SDOROW., 2nd Edition,
Brown and Bench mark publishers, 10WA, USA, 52001.
2) GLEITMAN, G., Basic Psychology. University of Pennsylvania, W.V Norton & Co. New York.
London. 3rd Edition (1997).
3) CARLSON, NEIL R., & BUSKIT, WILLIAM., Psychology, the science of Behaviour. Allyn and
Bacon, USA, Needham Heights MA 02194 5th Edition (1997)
4) GROSS, RICHARD Psychology, The Science of mind and behaviour Hodder and stoughton
Educational, London NW 1 3 BH the Bath Press (1996) 3rd Edition.