Bipolar Disorder and Cognitive Learning

In the field of psychology, the scientific study of human or animal behavior, intellectual, and emotional behaviors are the constant topics that continue to be progressive yet debatable. Periodically, more and more studies are conducted which result into new findings that are applied and adapted by modern teachings.

It is said that adjustment in behavior is highly individual and is closely related to stress and to other factors that affect the overall personality of the individual. Indeed, personality and mental disorders occur when people habitually put their own desires before the demands of the society.

One of the mental conditions that is becoming distinct yet hard to diagnose is bipolar disorder. Known as "manic depression," bipolar disorder is considered as a serious illness characterized by dangerous and risky behavior that can lead to destruction of relationships and devastated careers. If not given attention and if not treated properly, bipolar disorder can even lead to a the person suffering from it to steal his own life through suicide.

Experts say that bipolar disorder is usually characterized by extreme and drastic changes in mood or "poles" that usually range from simple mania to deep set depression. Studies also show that between or during these mood shifts and swings, the person suffering from the disorder are known to experience normal moods.

In the stage of mania, a person with bipolar disorder is known to exude increased restlessness, tremendous enthusiasm, high level of energy, unusual talkativeness, recklessness, show of power, and recurrent euphoric periods. This mood swing can result to reckless and impulsive spending or even risky sex escapades. After this, a shift of high-flying moods will take place, thus, driving a person who has bipolar disorder into a darker pit and recesses of personality that becomes easily irritated and confused, unable to control anger and the feeling of being trapped.

When the person with bipolar disorder reaches the stage of depression, unexplained sadness, onset crying, feeling the sense of worthlessness, sudden loss of energy and pleasure accompanied by sleeping problems set in. 

According to studies, aside from dramatic mood shifts and changes, there is actually a whole spectrum of symptoms characterized by bipolar disorder. Some of these can be productive but can lead to catastrophic results once the mania or depression sets in because it can lead to death or suicide.

Indeed, it is to be expected that the enlightened person comes to realize sooner that no one else but himself can solve his problem than another person who is not so open to reality. So if you observe signs of bipolar disorder to a family or friend, advise him or her to visit a registered physician immediately.

Aside from bipolar disorder, one of the interesting topics when it comes to human psychology is the theory of learning processes. Aside from the basic learning processes or forms that include associative learning and cognitive learning. The former involves classical conditioning-that emphasizes associations between stimuli and responses and operant conditioning-which focuses on associations between responses and their consequences.

The latter, on the other hand, is more interesting because it is a more complex form of learning that involves interpreting present perceptions in the light of the past information to solve unfamiliar problems. The concept of cognitive learning is being adapted by more and more experts because it refers to the first stage of learning a skill which declarative knowledge are acquired.

Since it involves the learning of the knowledge and development of beliefs and attitudes without direct reinforcements, cognitive learning is believed to be more effective because it can be a prelude to the study of human memory and language.