Holism and Reductionism

Question 1

What is holism?

Answer 1

Perceiving the whole experience of a behaviour rather than individual features

Question 2

What is reductionism?

Answer 2

Breaks down complex phenomena into simple components, implying behaviour is best understood at a simpler level of explanation

Question 3

What is parsimony?

Answer 3

The principle of using the simplest explanation to describe a behaviour

Question 4

Describe the levels of explanation

Answer 4

• Reductionists suggests explanation of behaviour begins at the highest level and progressively look at component elements
• Highest level (least reductionist): cultural and social explanations of how social groups affect behaviour
• Middle level: psychological (brain processes) explanations of behaviour
• Lower level (most reductionist): biological explanations of behaviour

Question 5

Give an example of the levels of explanation being used

Answer 5

• Gender has been explained at a social level as gender stereotypes affect how we behave
• At a psychological level, as SLT explains gender through brain processes like imitation and internalisation.
• At a biological level, due to the role of chromosomes and hormones in gender

Question 6

Describe biological reductionism

Answer 6

• Reducing behaviour to the action of neurons, hormones.
• e.g. it has been suggested that schizophrenia is caused by excessive activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine

Question 7

Describe environmental reductionism

Answer 7

• Reducing behaviour to simple-stimulus response links
• e.g. the learning theory of attachment, the mother likely provides food which is reinforcing (reduces discomfort) so, she’s a rewarding individual and the baby becomes attached

Question 8

Describe humanistic psychology

Answer 8

• Humanistic psychologists believe an individual reacts as an organised whole.
• What matters is the person’s sense of unified identity, so a lack of identity or a sense of ‘wholeness’ leads to mental disorder

Question 9

Give evaluation for reductionism (too simple)

Answer 9

• Reductionism has been accused of oversimplifying complex phenomena
• Explanations at a biological level don’t consider the social context within which behaviour occurs, where the behaviour might derive it’s meaning
• e.g. Conformity might only emerge within a group context as people may conform as they might want to fit in (normative SI) or they want to be right (informative SI)
• Therefore some behaviour can only be understood at a higher level and can’t be reduced

Question 10

Give evaluation for reductionism (scientific)

Answer 10

• Reductionism forms the basis of a scientific approach
• To conduct controlled research, we need to operationalise variables to be studied (breaking down behaviours into parts)
• e.g. by studying the biological explanation of aggression, psychologists may operationalise this by focusing on hormonal explanations for aggression. This means that we can conduct research in a way that’s objective and reliable
• Therefore, reductionism has helped giving psychology greater credibility by placing it on equal terms with the natural sciences

Question 11

Give evaluation for holism (complete understanding)

Answer 11

• Holism provides a more complete understanding of behaviour by looking at the whole experience
• e.g. Gestalt psychology focuses on perception, they argue explanations for what we see only make sense through a consideration of the whole.
• Therefore, this is beneficial as it’s a lot more reflective of how humans behave

Question 12

Give evaluation for holism (can’t be tested)

Answer 12

• Theories based on holism can’t be rigorously tested
• e.g. it often relies on subjective and qualitative data, such as interviews which studies a persons’ whole experience.
• This means that, as not everyone’s experiences are the same, the same results aren’t guaranteed. Therefore reliable research can’t be gathered to support theories