5 - Holism + Reductionism Flashcards
What does the holism vs reductionism debate question?
Whether human behaviour should be studied by looking at the behaviour as a ‘whole’ or by breaking it up into its constituent parts
Can the holism vs reductionism debate be looked at on a spectrum/in an interactionist way?
No - people either believe in taking a holistic or reductionist stance
Define holism
The belief that behaviour should be studied by looking at the ‘whole’ as an indivisible system because the whole is greater than the sum of its parts
What type of psychologists support taking a holistic stance?
Gestalt psychologists (‘whole’ psychologists)
Give an example of an approach that supports taking a holistic stance?
Humanistic approach
Focuses on an individual’s life experiences as a whole
What research methods are used by psychologists who believe in holism? Why?
Qualitative methods
- Believed to be better at providing a full representation of behaviour
Is holism seen as more objective or more subjective? Why?
More subjective
- It involves less intricate scientific methodology
Define reductionism
The belief that human behaviour is best studied by reducing it to smaller components and analysing these parts individually
What principle is reductionism based on?
Parsimony (all phenomena should be explained using the simplest, lowest level principles)
Give an example of two approaches that support taking a reductionist stance?
Biological approach - supports biological reductionism
Behaviourist approach - supports environmental reductionism
What research methods are used by psychologists who believe in reductionism? Why?
Quantitative methods
- Used to more objectively break down + scientifically study one component at a time
Is reductionism seen as more objective or more subjective? Why?
More objective
- Uses more scientific, quantitative methods
Does holism or reductionism believe in ‘levels of explanation’?
Reductionism
What are levels of explanation?
The idea that behaviour can be explained in several ways (levels) that are varying in their extent of reductionism
Describe the ‘levels of explanation’ that are part of the reductionist stance
Highest level + least reductionist = social + cultural explanations (experiences, influence of social groups)
Middle level = psychological explanations (cognitive, environmental)
Lowest level + most reductionist = biological explanations (physiological brain structure, genetics, neurochemicals)
Explain how an interactionist approach to reductionism may be taken
Argue that a combination of several levels of explanation can be used to explain a behaviour
(Still reductionist - breaks causation into levels, just uses several levels in combination to explain the cause)
Name 2 common types of reductionism
- Biological reductionism
- Environmental reductionism
Define biological reductionism
Breaks down the cause of behaviour to a biological level, looking at factors such as: neurochemicals, genes, structures, evolution
Give an example of how biological reductionism may be used as a way to explain behaviour
Explanation for OCD
- Low serotonin
- Caused by low neurotransmitter activity
Define environmental reductionism
Breaks down the cause of behaviour to an environmental level, by looking at the basic stimulus-response link which is acquired
Give an example of how environmental reductionism may be used as a way to explain behaviour
Attachment
- Stimulus-response link between mother + pleasure acquired
- Classical conditioning links pleasure response from food to the neutral stimulus of the mother
Give a topic example of a holistic approach being taken
Zimbardo’s SPE
- Situation as a whole considered cause of conformity
- Explanation not reduced to smaller parts: uniform, genes, etc
- Would be hard to explain the whole group’s behaviour if reduced
Give a topic example of a reductionist approach being taken
Aggressive behaviour
- Cause reduced down to the MAOA gene
- Explains complex aggressive behaviour by breaking it down
What are the evaluative points for holism?
POS - Can explain complex behaviours in a group/social context
NEG - Less practical value
What are the evaluative points for reductionism?
POS - Scientific + reliable
NEG - Over-simplifies some behaviour
Explain the positive evaluation point for holism
Can explain complex behaviours in a group/social context
- Some group behaviours/in a social context are better understood using holism
- A complete overview is needed to formulate an explanation
- E.g. social roles in Zimbardo’s SPE must be explained by analysing the whole situation + not reducing it down to smaller parts (there is no ‘conformity gene’ etc)
Explain the negative evaluation point for holism
Less practical value
- Holism considers any factors as an overall cause
- This can prevent pinpointing causes of undesirable behaviours that could be treated
- E.g. Depression: Holism considers many causes (upbringing, experiences, etc) + Biological reductionism may suggest one cause that allows quick prescription of one treatment (low serotonin - SSRIs)
Explain the positive evaluation point for reductionism
Scientific + reliable
- Reductionism breaks down behaviour into its component parts so it can be researched in a controlled, objective, scientific way
- This means the findings are scientific + reliable as they can be reproduced
- E.g Strange situation: Behaviours operationalised into small parts to observe + allows objective diagnosis
- This gives psychology scientific credibility
Explain the negative evaluation point for reductionism
Over-simplifies some behaviour
- By reducing behaviour to one cause it can overlook how multiple factors can interact + have an impact
- Explanations + treatments may not be all-encompassing so may not be entirely effective at countering all causes
- Human behaviour may simply be too complex for a reductionist stance
