Understanding the Characteristic Traits of Behavior

Years ago, I watched a fantastic show that is streaming online called Homeland. I decided to watch it again, seeking to bett6er understand the bipolar disorder that afflicts the main character—Carrie Mathison.

The cast is terrific including the star, Claire Danes, a CIA officer from 2011 to 2020. Danes stars as Carrie Mathison in the Showtime drama series for which she won two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor in a Drama Series. Damian Lewis plays a U.S. Marine Sergeant, Nicholas Brody. He won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Lewis carefully navigates his new role as a hero having lived in captivity for 8 years and then returned home. It is not known at the time that he converted to Islam and returned in order to serve the interests of his captures, with whom he bonded. After returning home, he trades off his new found status as a hero and becomes a US Congressperson, but really a covert operative for the ‘bad guys’. The essence of the show, at least at the beginning, is that Mathison has come to believe that Brody, who was held captive by al-Qaeda as a prisoner of war, was turned by the enemy and now threatens the U.S.  

Homeland received critical acclaim, as well as several industry awards, including winning the 2012 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series and the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama, in addition to the awards given to Danes and Lewis.

My Motivation in Writing This Blog

The reason for blogging about the show is that I found the depiction of bipolar disorder, which affects Mathison, to be quite realistic. In my experience, I have found that people who are bipolar can be very productive during ‘high’ episodes and suffer manic episodes in others. This is the case for Mathison, although when she goes off her meds a state of confusion and mood swings result.

I have previously blogged about bipolar disorder in the workplace. In today’s blog, I will discuss the characteristic traits of behavior that are used in the show to display the disorder, including mood swings, also known as mania or hypomania, and the effects of the disorder on others.

There is a lot more I want to say about bipolar disorder. In this blog, I will discuss the characteristic traits of behavior and how they affect Mathison, the protagonist, and co-workers working at the CIA. In the next blog I will tackle the issue of when people with bipolar disorder make poor judgments due to impulsivity and risk-taking. This can lead to impulsive behaviors like unsafe sexual activity, substance misuse, and excessive spending, among others.

Medical Symptoms

Let me begin with how bipolar is portrayed in the show. While it may not be 100% accurate, I do believe the characteristic traits of behavior are realistic, although they may be exaggerated at times. Mathison is a high achiever by any measure. She is very capable and devoted to her work, which is a quality that many bipolar individuals have. The key to performing this way is to keep in check the bipolar ups and downs. In other words, she needs not to get too excited but also not to get too depressed. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, “bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings. These include emotional high episodes also known as mania or hypomania, and lows, also known as depression. Hypomania is less extreme than mania.”

There are several types of bipolar and related disorders. For the sake of brevity, I only cover the two main forms.

• Bipolar I disorder. Having at least one manic episode that may come before or after hypomanic or major depressive episodes. In some cases, mania may cause a break from reality. This is called psychosis.
• Bipolar II disorder. Having at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode. But you've never had a manic episode.

The Mayo Clinic points out that “when a person who is bipolar becomes depressed, they may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When their mood shifts to mania or hypomania, they may feel overly excited and happy (euphoric), full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly.’

Mathison is manic when she is off her meds. This leads to accelerated speech and action. She seems moody, especially when she doesn’t get her way. Mathison feels like she is the smartest person in the room, or so she believes. When she doesn’t get her way, she becomes quite irritable and difficult to control because of the mania.

The Mayo Clinic points out that “episodes of mood swings from depression to mania may occur rarely or multiple times a year.” Each occurrence typically lasts for days, although some people have extended periods of emotional stability. Others may frequently have mood swings from depression to mania, and even depression and mania at the same time.

Although bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, mood swings can be managed with a healthcare plan. In most cases, healthcare professionals use medicines and talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, to treat bipolar disorder.

What I Have Learned

One thing that I have learned is bipolar disorder can start at any age, but usually it's diagnosed during late adolescence or early adulthood, between the ages of 15 and 25. However, it can sometimes present earlier in childhood or later in adulthood. Symptoms can differ from person to person, and symptoms may vary over time. This seems to fit the character played by Danes.

In the show, we see Mathison in a manic state several times. The telltale signs are when she writes out her thoughts on a sheet of paper whereby each thought seems to encroach on others. The whole page is full of her thoughts and strategies. To some, it looks like a series of confused collections of thoughts—only Danes can follow the logic. In other times we see dozens of pictures on a tack board pin. It’s hard to follow why they are there. Still, at other times we see papers/files all over the floor in what seems to be an unrecognizable collection of documents with no beginning and no end.

The bipolar episodes occur when she goes off her meds. Anyone who has lived with bipolar knows it can be dangerous to go off your meds, especially suddenly as does Mathison. At the extreme, it could lead to suicidal ideation. Mattison attempted suicide by overdosing on her medication.

The portrayal of bipolar in some shows seems unrealistic, even offensive. I watched a segment of Law and Order (S19, E21) which was called ‘Skate or Die’. The main character afflicted with bipolar is known as the ‘Bipolar Roller’ because he is constantly skating to get from one point or another, and for enjoyment. To say he is eccentric is an understatement. He is depicted as a schizophrenic with paranoid delusions. He believes the KGB is out to kill him. He refuses to take antipsychotic medication. One could say that he gives those with bipolar a bad name.

Look for my next blog on bipolar in a week. Feel free to send me comments on this blog. I value your opinions.

Posted by Steven Mintz, aka Ethics Sage, on March 5, 2025. You can sign up for his newsletter and learn more about his activities at: https://www.stevenmintzethics.com/.