Psychological Behaviorism theory posits that in the sensory-motor area, certain types of potentially adaptive instrumental skills, which yield short-term reinforcement and long-term punishment when exercised, may constitute risk factors for bipolar disorder. These assets are hypothesized to include persuasive conversational techniques, social manipulativeness, and other social, recreational, educational, or occupational skills required for high risk activities. The focus on childhood development of pathogenic assets rather than deficits in the s-in repertoire is a unique aspect of PB theory.
In the language-cognitive area, bipolar vulnerable individuals may tend towards grandiose self-labeling. "Positive self-esteem" is usually considered to be an adaptive characteristic for children and adults. However, some individuals may have concomitant deficits in cautionary cognitive processes, which are needed for inhibiting potentially harmful behaviors and for ascertaining negative consequences. Additionally, there may be poor problem-solving skills in generating options and anticipating possible consequences.
In the emotion-motivation area, individuals at risk for bipolar Disorder may respond with excessive or inappropriate positive arousal to certain psychosocial stimuli. For example, they may have inappropriately pleasant emotional responses to dangerous situations and imagery. Euphoric mood can also constitute a state of well-being that evokes positive responses from others, again suggesting e-m characteristics of hypomania may function as assets under certain circumstances. This is consistent with studies suggesting that hypomania can constitute an adaptive emotional state (Kendall, Howard, & Hays, 1989).
The sporadic and abrupt nature of manic episodes also suggests that e-m characteristics may have both adaptive and maladaptive functions. Although research cited throughout this article involves diagnosis of a manic episode without a distinction of the e-m states of euphoria vs. irritability, it is possible that these seemingly incompatible mood states involve different determinants. The current PB theory of bipolar disorder primarily considers mania in the form of maladaptive euphoria.............
