Directions of research on bilingualism – psychological perspective

The following text is a literature review of a chosen studies about psychological effects of bilingualism, focusing mainly on potential benefits, which such phenomenon can result in, and on the knowledge from empirical research. It contains a synthesis of the newest psychological experiments and their conclusions as well as agenda. The presented issues focus mainly on a description of the phenomenon and a definition of the very notion, criteria of a group of bilingual persons, and on a description of factors having a significant meaning in acquiring linguistic and communicative competency. The texts refers to the current research on the influence of bilingualism on concrete skills. Also, some research describing relationships between bilingualism and personality, as well as bilingualism and biculturalism is cited. It is particularly significant in the context of modern migration movements and globalization.