A Stylometric Analysis: Writing in the Bipolar Individual

We can extrapolate that bipolar individuals are more emotionally reactive and sensitive to the world around them

While there is undoubtedly a link between bipolarity and the artistic temperament, this study raises more questions than answers yet is still an important step in taking this research in a new direction. In fact, highly accomplished people are probably under-diagnosed with this disease because of their extreme productivity that might mask any pathology. Since individuals suffering from general depression are often unproductive, we may wonder why bipolar individuals might be creative in a depressed state; based on our study we can extrapolate that bipolar individuals are more emotionally reactive and sensitive to the world around them. They are less inhibited and therefore more likely to take risks, not just with substances and gambling but also creative risks. They are more likely to express themselves freely. Bipolar disorder’s extreme mood changes from one end of the spectrum to the other permits the writer to possibly see a more beautiful truth in humanity and nature due to the contradictory processes always inherent in his or her thinking. Further research should compare general depression to bipolar depression to examine the reasons for this dichotomy of creative ability. The question remains: how many of our great thinkers and writers were bipolar, and if treatment had been available at the time would we be culturally and intellectually depressed today without their outstanding works? How does the answer to this reflect how aggressively we would like to treat this disease in the future?

Read full article at: https://issuu.com/adrianchernyk/docs/ac_a_stylometric_analysis_of_writing_in_the_bipola