Holism and Reductionism Flashcards
What is holism?
In respect to behaviour, it’s perceiving the whole experience of a behaviour rather than individual features and/or the relation between them
What is reductionism?
Breaks down complex phenomena into simple components, implying behaviour is best understood at a simpler level of explanation
What is parsimony?
The principle of using the simplest explanation to describe a behaviour (reductionist)
Describe the levels of explanation
- 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 explanations of behaviour
- Lower level (most reductionist): biological explanations of behaviour
Give an example of the levels of explanation being used
- Gender has been explained at a social level as gender stereotypes affect how we behave
- At a psychological level, SLT of gender, through modelling and imitation and internalisation, which influence gender
- At a biological level, due to the role of chromosomes and hormones in gender
Describe biological reductionism
- Biological psychologists reduce behaviour to the action of neurons, hormones etc.
- e.g. it has been suggested that schizophrenia is caused by excessive activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine
Describe environmental reductionism
- Behaviourists suggest behaviour can be explained in terms of 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
Describe humanistic psychology
- 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
Give evaluation for reductionism (too simple)
- The approach 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
Give evaluation for reductionism (scientific)
- Reductionism forms the basis of a scientific approach
- As to conduct well-controlled research, we need to operationalise variables to be studied (break down behaviours into parts)
- e.g. by studying the biological approach to explaining aggression psychologists may operationalise this by focusing in 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
Give evaluation for holism (complete understanding)
- Holism provides a more complete understanding by looking at the whole experience
- e.g. Gestalt psychology focuses on perception, they argue explanations for what we see only makes sense through a consideration of the whole.
- Therefore, this is beneficial as it’s a lot more reflective of how humans behave
Give evaluation for holism (can’t be tested)
- 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 experiences.
- 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
