Issues and Debates - Holism vs Reductionism

Question 1

Reductionism

Answer 1

We break things down into their constituent parts. The components of an individual are used to explain human behaviour

Question 2

Reductionist approach to studying OCD example

Answer 2

When studying someone with OCD, you may exclusively analyse their genetics. This is reductionist as you are excluding any other factor that may contribute to their OCD

Question 3

Positive of taking a reductionist approach to OCD treatment

Answer 3

It can help with treatments being developed as lots of detail is provided about how genetic factors affect OCD

Question 4

Evaluation of the reductionist approach

Answer 4

Focusing on one component is very time consuming, causing you to potentially miss out on key information that may be more valuable in treatment development

Question 5

Holism

Answer 5

The whole person’s experience is considered to draw a conclusion (including their cognitive, emotional, spiritual developmental, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors)

Question 6

Looking at someone holistically means…

Answer 6

Everything about them is considered, not just one factor

Question 7

Two types of reductionism

Answer 7

Biological
Environmental

Question 8

Biological reductionism

Answer 8

Behaviour is reduced to one’s internal constituent parts. Behaviour is reduced to genes, hormones, neurotransmitters etc

Question 9

Key example of biological reductionism

Answer 9

Treatment of OCD

Question 10

Positive evaluation of biological reductionism: drug therapies

Answer 10

Development of drug therapies came about due to biological reductionism

Question 11

Positive evaluation of biological reductionism: ethical approach

Answer 11

More ethical approach for treating mental disorders as it takes blame from the person. Says individuals cannot help the disorder and did nothing wrong

Question 12

Positive evaluation of biological reductionism: acceptance

Answer 12

Gives us more acceptance of people with mental disorders in society

Question 13

Negative evaluation of biological reductionism: what is actually treated?

Answer 13

The symptom is treated instead of the cause

Question 14

Negative evaluation of biological reductionism: what does it encourage?

Answer 14

Encourages dependency on drugs

Question 15

Negative evaluation of biological reductionism: what factors doesn’t this include?

Answer 15

No appreciation of external factors or the individual’s social context

Question 16

Environmental reductionism

Answer 16

Behaviour is reduced to stimulus-response chains. All behaviour is a result of classical conditioning (association) and is maintained through operant conditioning (consequences)

Question 17

Key example of environmental reductionism

Answer 17

Treatment of phobias

Question 18

Positive evaluation of environmental reductionism: drug dependency

Answer 18

Doesn’t encourage drug dependency

Question 19

Negative evaluation of environmental reductionism: who is studied in the behaviourist approach?

Answer 19

Stimulus-response approaches are based on animal studies

Question 20

Negative evaluation of environmental reductionism: what is being neglected

Answer 20

Biological approaches may be being forgotten about

Question 21

Who came up with the levels of explanation in psychology?

Answer 21

Rose

Question 22

What does Rose suggest?

Answer 22

She suggests that there are different ways of viewing the same phenomena in psychology

Question 23

How do the levels of explanation vary in psychology?

Answer 23

Explanations vary from those at a lower level focusing on basic components to those at a higher more holistic multi-variable level

Question 24

Lowest level of explanation in psychology

Answer 24

Biological explanations

Question 25

Middle level of explanation in psychology

Answer 25

Psychological explanations of behaviour (cognitive and SLT)

Question 26

Highest level of explanation in psychology

Answer 26

Cultural and social explanations of how our social group effects our behaviour