holism and reductionism Flashcards
what is holism?
When looking at behaviour, we should judge the whole rather than one specific part.
Appreciates the complex interaction of many factors.
E.g: humanism is holistic
what is reductionism?
Trying to explain complex behaviours using the component parts that make them up.
Reducing the explanation into a simplistic form.
Reductionism is NOT simply when a theory does not explain something. Nor is it simply when a theory fails to take something into account.
Reductionism is the idea of explaining complex human behaviour by breaking it down to a single variable cause.
For example, stating that schizophrenia (a complex human behaviour) is caused by an excess of dopamine receptors (one single factor).
what is parsimony?
Reductionism works on the idea of parsimony.
Science favours the simplest explanation for events.
Follows the principle of ‘Occam’s Razor’.
Where there is more than one explanation for an event, the simplest one (as long as it accounts for all observations) is preferable.
what are the levels of explanation?
The notion of ‘levels of explanation’ suggests that there are different ways (levels) of viewing the same phenomena in psychology.
The reductionist approach argues explanations begin at the highest level and progressively reduce to consider behaviours at component elements.
Highest Level: Most holistic - cultural and social explanations of how our social group affects our behaviour.
Middle Level: Psychological explanations of behaviour, e.g., cognition and emotions.
Lowest Level: Most reductionist - biological explanations (e.g., genes, hormones etc)
- look at booklet for examples of these levels.
what is biological reductionism?
Biological reductionism is explaining human behaviour by using biological systems such as genetics, physiology of the body & brain, or biochemistry.
Biological reductionism, in terms of the levels of explanation, it is the most reductionist that psychology can be.
Two biologically reductionist measures:
Monitoring and recording neurotransmitter levels by sampling cerebrospinal fluid to make assumptions on the causes of psychiatric conditions.
Monitoring and recording brain activity using an fMRI to assess localisation of function in the brain.
what is environmental explanation?
Environmental reductionism can be seen in the levels of explanation as ‘psychological explanations’.
This is reductionist as it simplifies a behaviour to a stimulus-response action as seen in Classical Conditioning.
E.g. snake phobia can be explained as learned through experience of a snake bite, where fear and pain are associated with the snake, so they
will, in future, avoid snakes.
Two environmentally reductionist measures:
Using experiments such as Skinner’s lab experiments using rats and pigeons.
Using controlled observations such as Watson and Raynor’s study of Little Albert.
what is an example of biological reduction?
Two biologically reductionist examples:
Language can be reduced to structured in the brain (Broca and Wernicke’s Areas) but holism could state education, social class and family influence could affect language ability.
The cause of OCD can be reduced to the role of a damaged caudate nucleus creating a ‘worry circuit’ in the brain, whereas holism might suggest stress and trauma could play a role.
what is the interactionist perspective?
This approach suggests we shouldn’t follow a reductionist approach, looking at only one factor as a possible cause for a behaviour, but instead be more holistic and recognise a behaviour may have multiple different causes for different people.
E.g., a phobia of snakes could be…
Triggered from a traumatic event with a snake (as per the two-process model explanation for phobias).
The result of evolution (snakes can be deadly, so it is advantageous for us to fear and avoid them).
what are the positive evaluations of holism and reductionism?
- Point - Biological reductionism is a more precise, simpler explanation (most parsimonious).
Evidence - This is because we are stating behaviour is always the result of physiological processes and structures, like OCD being caused by a damaged caudate nucleus, which can then be effectively measured using an fMRI.
Elaboration - As a result of this, reductionist approaches could be considered more scientific and allows for the creation of nomothetic laws. They also tend to follow the principle of parsimony, the idea of keeping ideas as simple as possible. It is much easier to see one variable affecting another one, compared to varied and multi-faceted variables interacting with other variables.
Link back - This means that….. using a biologically reductionist approach to understanding behaviour can be more useful to society………
- Point - Biological reductionism can also allow us to generate useful biological treatments.
Evidence - For instance, by reducing the explanation for the development of schizophrenia down to the activity of dopamine, they have been able to produce antipsychotic medications that have seen great success in reducing the psychotic symptoms experienced.
Elaboration - These practical applications show that reductionist approaches can have useful impacts upon society, especially with mental illnesses. Whilst holistic approaches have their benefits, these reductionist approaches can produce treatments quicker.
Link back - This means that… biologically reductionist approaches have had positive tangible effects in society, especially in the treatment of those with psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia
- Point - Environmental reductionism is also easy to test as it simplifies behaviour to a stimulus - response action.
Evidence - Briefly explain this point and refer to Little Albert in your explanation.
Elaboration -
Link back - This means that….
- Point - Holism can be praised for appreciating the full complexity of human behaviour.
Evidence - For example, group behaviours such as the effects of conformity to social roles and the deindividuation of the prisoners and guards in the SPE could not be understood by studying the participants as individuals.
Elaboration - This is because the interaction between people and the behaviour of a group was important in determining participant behaviour. Simply viewing participants as individuals would not have allowed a full and deep understanding of group dynamics and behaviours.
Link back - This suggests that….. more holistic explanations provide a more complete and global understanding of behaviour than reductionist perspectives.
what are the negative evaluations of holism and reductionism?
- Point - However, holistic approaches to explaining behaviour are not considered scientific and are harder to study.
Evidence - The explanations can become vague and speculative as they become more complex. For instance, humanistic psychology attempts to provide a more holistic view of human behaviour.
Elaboration - However, there is a lack of empirical evidence for concepts such as self actualisation and congruence as they are not directly observable and cannot be measured in any way. These are loose, subjective concepts that can only be inferred.
Link back - This suggests that psychologists need to ensure they are taking into account different factors that can cause a behaviour, but in a measurable and falsifiable way to maintain credibility. Therefore, to be holistic possibly requires us to compromise on the idea of Psychology being a science which could have negative impacts in terms of reputation and funding possibilities….
- Point - A reductionist explanation may mean that other explanations are ignored and underplayed.
Evidence - In the case of mental illness this could lead to a reoccurrence of the issues as all the factors have not been considered. E.g. by treating phobias with medication (e.g. anti-anxiety pills), relapse can seem inevitable when the medication stops.
Elaboration -
Link back - This implies…
- Point - For both biological reductionism and environmental reductionism, the simplicity of the explanations is seen as a flaw and the explanations are inadequate in describing the complexities of human behaviour.
Evidence - Briefly explain how the concordance rates for OCD imply both biological and environmental reductionism.
Elaboration-
Link back - This implies that…
