Holism & Reductionism

Question 1

What is Holism?

Answer 1

Focus on the whole system or person, considering broader experiences and circumstances. Compatible with humanistic psychology

Question 2

What is reductionism?

Answer 2

Focus on constituent elements, reducing behaviour down to biological units

Question 3

Environmental reductionism

Answer 3

Idea that all behaviour is acquired through stimulus-response

Question 4

Biological reductionism

Answer 4

Idea that all behaviour is a result of genetics, evolution and neuroanatomy

Question 5

Levels of explanation

Answer 5

Social and cultural, psychological and cognitive, behavioural, physiological, neurochemical

Question 6

Strengths of Holism & reductionism

Answer 6

RED - Psychologists drawn to its parsimony (eg. Complex behaviour reduced to isolated variables and thus studied systematically and scientifically so specific treatments developed)
HOL - Holism considers wider context (eg. Conformity to social roles and deindividuation understood by their interactions and behaviour of the group)

Question 7

Limitations of Holism & reductionism

Answer 7

RED - Limited insight to complex human behaviour (eg. Ritalin may reduce symptoms of ADHD but ignores conditions that caused it)
HOL - Holism lacks empirical evidence (eg. Qualitative methods and self-report techniques reduce scientific credibility)