Holism And Reductionism Flashcards
Describe the debate
Look at whole person or constitute parts (no continuity)
Reductionism can be broken down into levels of explanation
What is holism?
Looks at system as a whole and sees any attempt to subdivide behaviour or experience into smaller units as inappropriate.
View of gestalt (humanistic psychologist) focuses on individual experience eg. Qualitative methods
What is reductionism?
Break behaviour down into smaller parts, based on scientific principles of Parsimony —> using low level principles.
Level of explanation in psychology —> eg. Hierarchy of science psychology between sociology and biology.
What is biological reductionism?
Attempts to explain behaviour at lowest biological level eg. Genes, hormones etc… OCD and antidepressants.
What is environmental reductionism (stimulus response)
Attempts to explain all behaviour in terms of stimulus response links that have been learnt through experience. Eg. Learning theory of attachment reduces idea of love to association.
One limitation is the practical value (AO3)
Holism may lack practical value. Holistic accounts of behaviour tends to become hard to use as they are more complex. Many different factors contribute to depression (present, past relationships, jobs etc) it becomes hard to show which is most influential.
One strength is the scientific approach (AO3)
Strength of reductionism. Forms basis of a scientific approach. Conducting well controlled research we operationalise the variables to be studied —> breaking target behaviours into parts. Possible to conduct experiments and record observations —> reliable data.
Counterpoint of scientific approach (AO3)
Reductionist approach accused of oversimplifying complex phenomena, reducing validity. Gene and neurotransmitters level explanations do not include analysis of social context within a behaviour occurs. Reductionist explanations can only ever form part of an explanation.
