Loving Care Makes Humans More Intelligent

photo title: Lullaby

In 1980 I read a book on the impact of emotions on intelligence. It was a book with a longitudinal study of children and adolescents. The hypothesis of that longitudinal research was that emotions do impact the level of intelligence. The positive correlation was proven by statistical tests.

Thus, the more hurt and in distress the child or adolescent was, the more negative impact such distressful emotions had on the intelligence of the child of adolescent i.e. the worse the test results were. The book was also about mental deterioration – this is a technical term which describes the decline in intelligence when it is measured on the same person with the same IQ test (with all the needed metric characteristics) in the span of at least 6 months, but usually more.

As intelligence is needed for daily functioning in the society we should care that we do not lose it, and especially we should care for the children that they don’t get negatively affected.

What would affect the children’s intelligence in negative way:

• Harsh punishment, beating
• Accusations, especially false ones
• Belittling
• Scolding
• Mock and despise
• Confusing their minds &hearts
• Scaring, instilling fear
• Harsh talk
• Violence and violent scenes
• Hurting their loved ones
• Loss
• Misleading them
• Forcing them to do something
• Abusing their trust
• Sexual abuse
• Detrimental comparisons

All the above mentioned would stir up negative emotions in a child and create a wound that might heal overtime, but not always. Sometimes the intensity and the frequency of the negative events that affect the child is so overwhelming that the child does not have the resilience to bounce back to normal functioning and normal intelligent comprehension any more.
Children are very sensitive and trusting. They need adults to help them to grow up. Talking to them harshly is like throwing stones at them or beating them with words. When they are affected by negativity they shrink, what sometimes gives the physical impression of tenseness.

So what should we do to support the intelligence in the child, so that the emotions and distress don’t get in a way of their acquisition of knowledge, skills, and comprehension and sensible intelligent reasoning?

We should:

• Talk to them kindly and gently
• Set the limits according to their age and abilities
• Explain calmly
• Show them acceptance
• Allow them to participate in what they are capable of
• Nurture their mind and curiosity with accurate and truthful information on their level of understanding
• Nurture their hearts with affection and love
• Allow them to play and sometimes participate in the games they play
• Support them in their goals setting and achieving them
• Be a positive, gentle and benevolent example for them

This actually applies to adolescents, adults and elderly as well – it would benefit us all.
Sensory deprivation and/or sensory overload also have an impact on intelligence and intelligent reasoning. There are also other factors that impact the intelligence, as well, like nutrition, sleep, general health, which, if imbalanced, can make a mess out of a person. Lack of certain minerals or vitamins can make the mind foggy, as well as sleep deprivation. General health makes our bodies function properly, and good physical condition helps the metabolism and the body production of certain hormones to produce good mood. Also the blue light from the sun that shines on us when outside and falls on our eyes has an impact on intelligence, good mood, the production of vitamin D, and immunity. Fresh clean air and clean water have their benefits, too. All in all, we should not poison ourselves or others with anything – exaggeration in anything is actually poisonous, and should be avoided.