Holism and reductionism

Question 1

What is a holistic approach?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is reductionism?

Answer 2

Belief that human behaviour is best understood by studying the smaller constituent parts.

Question 3

Which approach is the most holistic and why?

Answer 3

• Humanistic
• Focuses on the person’s whole individual experiences.

Question 4

What is parsimony? (reductionism)

Answer 4

That all phenomena should be explained using the simplest principles.

Question 5

What are the levels of explanation?

Answer 5

Different ways to explain behaviour, with some being more reductionist than others.

Question 6

What are 3 examples of levels of explanation?

Answer 6

• Socio-cultural
• Psychological
• Physical

Question 7

What does biological reductionism include?

Answer 7

The neurochemical and physiological levels and genetic and evolutionary influences.

Question 8

What is environmental reductionism?

Answer 8

All behaviour is learned and acquired through interactions with the environment.

Question 9

Limitation of the holism approach - Lacks practical value

Answer 9

• Holistic accounts become harder to use as they get more complex.
• If we accept that there are many different factors that contribute to depression, then it becomes more difficult to know which is most influential.
• This can then make it more difficult to prioritise in therapies.
• This suggests holistic accounts may lack practical value.

Question 10

Strength of reductionist approach - Scientific

Answer 10

• In order to conduct research, the variables must be operationalised to break target behaviours into constituent parts.
• Makes it possible to conduct studies in a way that is objective and reliable.
• This therefore gives psychology greater credibility.

Question 11

Holism strength/reductionism limitation - Oversimplifying complex phenomena

Answer 11

• Reduces the levels of validity.
• By breaking behaviours down, it doesn’t always allow for the context and meaning to be analysed.
• Doesn’t allow for the social context to be looked into.
• Only a partial explanation.

Question 12

Limitation of reductionism - Some behaviours can only be understood at a higher level

Answer 12

• Aspects of social behaviour only emerges within a group and can’t be understood in terms of individuals.
• These behaviours can only be explained in the context that they were observed or took place.
• Suggests that for some behaviours, higher level explanations provide a more valid account.