Running head: SOCIAL PYSCHOLOGY 1

Portfolio Assignment

NAME

COURSE

INSTITUTION

DATE
SOCIAL PYSCHOLOGY 2

Portfolio Assignment

One

Name of Source: "Skyscraper" by Demi Lovato

Type of Source: Song

Link of Source: https://youtu.be/r_8ydghbGSg

"Skyscraper" is a significant hit by singer and songwriter Demi Lovato. The song talks

about an experience of facing a tough time and how this can make one get depressed. Also, the

song talks about how one can work to get through it. A mental health advocate, the song was

released after Demi Lovato was released from a mental health facility due to various mental

health issues (Lovato, 2011). Released in 2011, the song details multiple experiences of being

depressed and how one feels.

The major social psychology issue that is being illustrated in the song is depression.

Depression is a mental health issue that ranges from having negative thoughts and a spell of

unstable emotions that make one feel sad and lose interest in life. Of importance to note, it can

lead to various problems that may decrease mental and physical ability. Among the significant

symptoms of depression include feeling sad, loss of interest in pleasure, loss of appetite,

problems when sleeping, and even feeling unworthy.

Looking at the song, it is clear that it well relates to the concept definition of what

depression is. In this, the lyrics deeply talk about a feeling of sadness. For example, the songs by

a chorus that 'Skies are crying, I am watching, Catching tear drops in my hands" (Lovato, 2011).

This is a clear admission of an unhappy state. Much more, the song describes how one is feeling

unworthy and has lost interest in life. In more than one way, the song manages to capture the

course concept well.

SOCIAL PYSCHOLOGY 3

Two

Name of Source: Do Violent Video Games Cause Violence?

Type of Source: Article

Link of Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/do-violent-video-games-cause-

violence_b_58f64c4ce4b0156697225316

According to this source, there is a link between video games and violence, a common

issue that has over time manifested itself in the United States and the world over. According to

the link, the link between video games and violence is linear, and hence, this tends to present

major challenging points of consideration (Thompson, 2017). Citing mental health experts, the

source notes that more than 90% of people playing violent video games with a significant

violence problem. According to the source, the good thing is that there is no long-term link

between violence and video games. In this, one can quickly get back to their usual self with time.

The issue being considered is aggression and violence, two primary behaviors whereby

one acts violently quickly. While attack means being pro-physical, violence means one getting

down to a physical altercation. These two are major social psychology issues for children.

Children who grow in trauma use aggression as a defense mechanism. On the other hand,

children who face violence can also be violent as a learned behavior, and for this reason, when

children play games with violence, they tend to learn them quickly.

The article well relates to the course concepts. To be precise, the report notes that various

factors tend to lead to aggression and violence. This is the almost exact thing that the course

material and concepts posit (Thompson, 2017). The article details that since children see

violence in video games, they tend to learn that quickly. The best thing, both the course concepts

and class content make it clear that this can easily be reversed.
SOCIAL PYSCHOLOGY 4

Three

Name of Source: Suicide, It's Time to Talk About "IT"

Type of Source: Interview/testimonial

Link of Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noDNF_suU08

The video is a TED talk by Barb Smith, a reknown advocate of change in response to

suicide. According to her, suicide is a significant issue that many people face (Smith, 2020).

According to her, suicide begins when people start having suicidal thoughts. Suicidal thoughts

are often, and it only takes one to have the term cross in one's mind for them to be considered

suicidal. Besides, according to her, suicide is a significant issue, and for this reason, people need

to talk more often by people. Much more, the talk details how suicidal people think, how they act

and how they can be helped.

Suicide is a major social issue, and it involves people taking their own lives to escape

suffering. Also, it comes from the need for people to solve problems without much struggle.

People who have various life struggles and mental health problems are the major ones who are at

risk of committing suicide. The process of achieving is impulsive, but it tends to come after a

long reflection and personal battles.

Looking at the source, it is clear that it well depicts the significant aspects of the course.

To be precise, just like the course concepts, the article details the dangers of suicide. They will

complement and explain the course concept in more than one way, making them easy to

comprehend and apparent. Furthermore, the source and the course concept share the same ideas

on the symptoms of suicide, the prevalence, and the overall risk. Also, by offering almost similar

prevention strategies, they both well complement one another.

SOCIAL PYSCHOLOGY 5

References

Lovato, D. (2011, July 14). Demi Lovato - Skyscraper (Official video) [Video]. Retrieved from

https://youtu.be/r_8ydghbGSg

Smith, B. (2020). Suicide, It's Time to Talk About "IT" | Barb Smith | TEDxTraverseCity [Video].

Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noDNF_suU08

Thompson, Z. (2017, April 18). Do violent video games cause violence? Retrieved from

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/do-violent-video-games-cause-

violence_b_58f64c4ce4b0156697225316