Multimedia Essay Sample

“Imagine trying to live without air. Now imagine something worse.” (Reed, 2011). By these words, the author implies drug addiction. This phenomenon is typical of the people of the 21st century. Moreover, alcohol and tobacco addiction stand alongside drug abuse. These are bright examples of psychological problems, particularly personality disorders, which often overcome many individuals. Other examples include schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, complicated grief disorder, and others. All these issues are studied by the branch of psychology that investigates unusual patterns of behavior, emotion and thought, which cause mental disorder. This branch is called abnormal psychology. Nowadays abnormal psychology is widely recognized topic in the society and it is often discussed in a number of media productions.

In the production “Eating Disorders: Fighting Stigma with Science” (Bulik, 2009),

there is a pressing issue concerning eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. The production is a good example of the presenting issue, because it helps everybody to understand the scope and nature of the problem, to evaluate treatment, to develop improved treatments as understanding increases, and to destigmatize these illnesses. The production is reliable and valid, as the presenter of the information, Cynthia Bulik, is one of the leading researchers in the field, and she brings many undeniable facts concerning eating disorders. The production is thought provoking and insightful, as it motivates the viewers to ponder on the issue. For example, the tricky question presented in the video is why some people are more vulnerable to the problem of eating disorders, and why the others can resist the temptation. The main peculiarities one can learn from this production are the role of genetics and family environment in eating disorders and the role of society in eating disorders. The problem presented in the production is quite disputable and it involves further research, experiments and observations.

In the video “Nutrition Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease: Top 10 Preventive Strategies”, Dr.

James Meschino (2012) presents an important topic concerning Alzheimer’s disease. The production is a good example of the presenting issue because Dr. Meschino clearly describes the problem, names the factors, which cause the disease, and proves the fact that it is better to prevent Alzheimer’s disease unless it is too late. The production is reliable and valid, as it is grounded on scientific research made by a famous psychologist Dr. James Meschino. The production is thought provoking and insightful, as it stimulates the viewers to think over the issue of Alzheimer’s disease and its prevention. The main things one can learn from this production are the ways of prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, which include better diet, supplementation practices, and better lifestyles. The topic presented in the production is quite disputable and it involves further research, experiments and observations.

In the production “Understanding the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder – Real

Life Tips for Kids with Autism”, Jill Harris, Ph.D. of the Children’s Specialized Hospital presents practical and understandable information about autism spectrum disorder. This production is an appropriate example of the presenting issue, as it describes scientific information in the language easily understood by the common audience. Moreover, it provides the parents of ill children and people, interested in this problem, with useful facts and tips. The production is reliable and valid, as it is grounded on scientific research and practical work in Children’s Specialized Hospital, the largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital in the USA. The production is also thought provoking and insightful, as it is presented in the form of discussion between the speaker and imaginable audience (the viewers of the video), to which the speaker addresses. Thanks to this video, one can learn about the causes of autism spectrum disorder, processes that occur in the brain under the influence of the disease and about its consequences. The topic presented in the production involves further implications for future research on this topic. The presenter of the information states that children, who have the disease of autism, possess a high level of cognitive skills and are very functional, which means they may have a wide range of professions and employment. This question remains open and needs to be further discovered.

In the video “Schizophrenia: Gerald, Part I”, there is an information about such mental

disorder as schizophrenia. This production is an appropriate example of the presenting problem as it illustrates this type of disease through specific example of Gerald. The production is reliable and valid, as it is grounded on scientific research made by National Institute of Mental Health at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. The production is also thought provoking and insightful, as it inspires people to discuss this topic and its consequences. Due to this video, one can learn about the causes of schizophrenia, processes that occur in the brain under the influence of the disease and about ulterior consequences. The topic presented in the production involves implications for a future research on this topic, as this field is discovered not to a full extent.

The video “A Tale of Mental Illness — From the Inside”, (Saks, 2012) also touches upon a significant issue of schizophrenia. The production is an appropriate example of the presenting issue as it illustrates information through the real example: being a legal scholar, Saks came forward with her own story of schizophrenia, controlled by drugs and therapy but ever-present. She herself knows what this mental illness is and she tries to communicate her thoughts and feelings to the other people. The production is reliable and valid as this real story is told from the first person without distortion. The multimedia production “A Tale of Mental Illness — From the Inside” helps everybody to view people with mental illness clearly, honestly and compassionately. The video is thought provoking and insightful because after watching it, everybody starts to realize that every person may get into such terrible trouble.

In the production “Introduction to Abnormal Psychology”, Professor of University of

London, Tamar Pinkus, (2012) introduces the topic about abnormal psychology. This production is a good example of the presenting problem as it gives necessary general information about abnormal psychology. The production is reliable and valid, as it is grounded on scientific and educational material. The production is also thought provoking and insightful, as it inspires people for further pondering on the topic. The lecturer presents material in a good manner since she uses eye contact and gestures, and her language is distinct and clear. Thanks to this video, one can learn about the specific patterns and behaviors of the people with psychological and cognitional disorders. The topic presented in the production involves implications for future research.

The production “Tobacco Treatment Specialist Services – Mayo Clinic”

(2010) introduces the issue of tobacco addiction. This production is an appropriate example of the presenting issue as it gives necessary information and facts about tobacco abuse and its connection with abnormal psychology. The production is reliable and valid, as it is grounded on social work at Mayo Clinic. I know that there are many ways of treatment of this addiction and I thought that everyone himself/herself could easily overcome the addiction without someone else’s help. However, after viewing this video, I realized that it is very important for the tobacco addicts to turn for help to the specialists, who will care about them as loving relatives or friends. The production is also thought provoking and insightful, as it inspires people for further pondering on the topic.

In the multimedia production “On Being Just Crazy Enough”, a comedian Joshua Walters

(2011) discusses mental illnesses in a comic and funny manner. The video is an appropriate example of the presenting issue because the speaker brings a lot of examples and situations from the real life. The production is reliable and valid, as the author has the profound knowledge of the topic he presents. The production is insightful and interesting since the speaker asks a number of thought provoking questions; for example, “What’s the right balance between medicating craziness away and riding the manic edge of creativity and drive?”. Thanks to this video, one can learn how to draw the line between mental illness and mental “skillness”.

References

Bulik, C. (2009). Eating disorders: Fighting stigma with science. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved from http://vimeo.com/1715091 – 12.54

Dr. Meschino, J. (2012). Nutrition prevents Alzheimer’s disease: Top 10 preventive strategies.

Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. Retrieved from http://www.meschinohealth.com/blog/alzheimers-disease-and-cognition/2012/06/27/nutrition-alzheimers-disease-chance-prevent-its-late/ – 6.46

Harris, J. (2014) Understanding the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder – real life tips for kids with autismThe Children’s Specialized Hospital. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S4Y4V0Oe4c – 11,53

National Institute of Mental Health, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. (2007). Schizophrenia: Gerald, Part I. Case studies in Schizophrenia. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGnl8dqEoPQ#t=24 – 8.12

Pincus, T. (2012). Introduction to abnormal psychology (Part 6). Royal Holloway, University

of London. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fZfGcQjk1M -12.43

Reed, A. (2011). Clean. Retrieved from http://ru.scribd.com/doc/78936635/Amy-Reed-Clean

Saks, E. (2012). A tale of mental illness — from the inside. TED – Ideas Worth Spreading. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/elyn_saks_seeing_mental_illness – 14.52

Tobacco Treatment Specialist services – Mayo Clinic. (2010) Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EDaA26unVw – 4.06

Walters, J. (2011). On being just crazy enough. TED – Ideas Worth Spreading.

http://www.ted.com/talks/joshua_walters_on_being_just_crazy_enough.html #sthash.O3GvPLFX.dpuf – 5.51