Holism and Reductionism

Question 1

reductionism

Answer 1

breaking complex behaviour down into more simple parts

this is more desirable as it is a simpler level of explanation

Question 2

holism

Answer 2

perceiving complex behaviour as a whole including all of its constituent parts interacting as one

sum of parts does not equal the whole

Question 3

levels of explanations: high

Answer 3

social and cultural explanations

holistic

behaviour is explained in terms of social and cultural groups

Question 4

levels of explanations: middle

Answer 4

psychological explanations

behaviour is explained in terms of cognitive processes

Question 5

levels of explanations: low

Answer 5

biological explanations

reductionist

brain structure

Question 6

biological reductionism

Answer 6

attempts to explain behaviour at the lowest level in terms of the brain, neurochemistry, hormones and genetics

suggests sz has been caused by excessive activity of dopamine

Question 7

environmental reductionism

Answer 7

attempts to explain behaviour in terms of stimulus response links

behaviourist approach

process of learning to associate the caregiver with the pleasure of food