Holism And Reductionism

Question 1

What is holism

Answer 1

Theory which proposes that it only makes sense to study an indivisible system rather than its constituent parts

Question 2

What is reductionism

Answer 2

Belief that human behaviour is best explained by breaking it down into smaller constituent parts

Question 3

What is biological reductionism

Answer 3

Form of reductionism which attempts to explain social and psychological phenomena at a lower biological level (genes and hormones)

Question 4

What is environmental reductionism

Answer 4

Attempts to explain all behaviour in terms of stimulus response links that have been learnt through experience

Question 5

Is behaviourist approach reductionism or holism

Answer 5

Environmental reductionism- behaviour broken down into stimulus response associations

Question 6

Is SLT reductionism or holism

Answer 6

Partially reductionist- shares elements of both behaviourist and cognitive approach

Question 7

Is cognitive approach reductionism or holism

Answer 7

Experimental reductionism- behaviour investigated in terms of isolated variables eg capacity of STM

Question 8

Is biological approach reductionism or holism

Answer 8

Biological reductionism- behaviour broken down into biological structures/processes

Question 9

Is psychodynamic approach reductionism or holism

Answer 9

Both- innate drives and relationships with others

Question 10

Is humanistic approach reductionism or holism

Answer 10

Holism- focuses on understanding all aspects of human experience and interaction

Question 11

What are the levels of explanation

Answer 11

Get more specific reductionist
-social and cultural explanations(influence of social groups on behaviour)
-psychological explanations (cognitive/behavioural/emotional)
-biological explanations