Bilingualism and Affective Processing

Research suggests that the language in which we speak, listen, and read may affect how we understand and interact with our environment. Part of this interaction includes understanding affective communication. Recently, more research has explored the area of bilingualism and emotion. The way in which language interacts with thought and emotion remains controversial and uncertain. We know even less of how this may or may not change when multiple languages are introduced. This Doctoral Project looked at the importance of affective processing and examined its relations to language and aimed to better understand the relationship between bilingualism and affective processing. Study participants were 63 bilingual Spanish-English speakers who were administered an audio clip and an online survey. Results indicated no relationship between language and affective engagement. However, the findings of this study indicate the need for further research to investigate and clarify this relationship and its clinical implications. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]