I and D: holism vs reductionism

Question 1

define holism

Answer 1

focusing on the whole experience rather than individual features or the relationship between them

Question 2

define reductionism

Answer 2

breaking down a concept or focusing on smaller simpler aspects

Question 3

state the levels of explanation

Answer 3

reductionism
biological
psychological: behavioural
psychological: cognitive
socio-cultural
holism

Question 4

how is the humanistic approach holistic

Answer 4

focuses on individual experiences
use qualitative methods to investigate the self and themes are analysed rather than broken down into component behaviours

Question 5

list the 3 types of reductionism

Answer 5

machine reductionism
environmental reductionism
biological reductionism

Question 6

explain machine reductionism

Answer 6

explanations based on information processing
thinks human behaviours can only be understood by breaking them down into individual components
compares humans to machines

Question 7

explain environmental reductionism

Answer 7

assumes behaviour can be explained in terms of:
simple stimulus response
interaction
reinforcement
punishment

Question 8

explain biological reductionism

Answer 8

explained in terms of biological makeup
eg: chromosomes, hormones, genes

Question 9

AO3: case for holism

Answer 9

provides complete understanding of behaviour
some behaviours only occur in group setting and can’t be explained individually
eg: conformity in prison study
gives complete understanding and shows for some behaviours only the holistic approach is appropriate

Question 10

AO3: case against holism

Answer 10

explanations that combine many perspectives create practical problems for researchers
if we think many factors cause depression we don’t know which one is most influential and how to treat depression
harder to solve real life problems so reductionism may be more useful

Question 11

AO3: case for reductionism

Answer 11

seen as scientific
have to break behaviour into smaller components to operationalise it
eg: research into attachment uses strange situation to operationalise variables
allows researchers to study behaviour in a controlled environment and get c and e relationship

Question 12

AO3: case against reductionism

Answer 12

criticised for oversimplifying complex human behaviour and losing validity
eg: OCD is due to low serotonin
bio explanations fail to analyse the social context where the behaviour occurs