10. Holism And Reductionism AO3

Question 1

Name a strength of holism

Answer 1

Can explain key aspects of social behaviour

Question 2

Explain how holism can explain key aspects of social behaviour

Answer 2

some social behaviours only emerge in a group context - cannot be understood individually

Question 3

Give an example of how holism can explain social behaviour

Answer 3

The effects of de-individuation of prisoners and guerras in Zimbardo’s study couldn’t be understood by studying participants as individuals - interactions between people is what mattered

Question 4

Explain why holistic views are therefore needed

Answer 4

To gain a complete understanding of behaviour than reductionist approaches

Question 5

Name a strength of reductionism

Answer 5

Has scientific credibility

Question 6

Explain how reductionism has scientific credibility

Answer 6

Reductionism often forms basis of scientific research - target behaviours are reduced into constituent parts to create operationalised variables

Question 7

What does using operationalised variables mean for the scientific credibility of reductionism

Answer 7

Makes it possible to conduct experiments or record observations in meaningful reliable ways - gives psychology greater credibility

Question 8

Name a weakness of the holistic approach

Answer 8

It’s impractical

Question 9

Why is the holistic approach impractical

Answer 9

Explanations tend not to lend themselves to rigorous scientific testing - become vague and speculative as they become more complex

Question 10

Give and example of why the holistic approach is impractical

Answer 10

E.g. If we accept there are many factors contributing to depression, it’s difficulty to establish which is most influential- also difficult to decide which to use as a basis for therapy

Question 11

What does holisms impractical nature suggest

Answer 11

When it comes to finding solutions for real world problems - lower level explanations may be more acceptable