Issues and Debates - holism vs reductionism

Question 1

holism

Answer 1

looks at the whole integrated aspects of behaviour and experience, rather than as separate parts

Question 2

reductionism

Answer 2

attempting to simplify behaviour by breaking it down into smaller components, isolating different aspects of behaviour

Question 3

types of reductionism

Answer 3

biological and environmental

Question 4

biological reductionism

Answer 4

explain behaviour in terms of neurons, neurotransmitters, hormones, brain structures, etc.

Question 5

environmental reductionism

Answer 5

stimulus-response reductionism

Question 6

levels of reductionism

Answer 6

bottom -> biological
middle -> psychological
top -> social and cultural

Question 7

Gestalt psychologists

Answer 7

the whole human is greater than the sum of its parts. they rejected duality (believed that the mind and body are not separate) and argued for free will, very similar to humanism

Question 8

interactionist approach

Answer 8

still reductionism, how different levels of explanation may combine and interact. e.g diathesis stress model combines biology and sociology. drug therapy and family therapy combined usually lead to lower relapse rates than one isolated

Question 9

evaluation of holism

Answer 9

+ qualitative data means lots of detail
+ researching some topics e.g. conformity and social influence would not be possible without looking at the bigger picture
- lacks scientific testing and empirical evidence (unfalsifiable)

Question 10

evaluation of reductionism

Answer 10

+ biological reductionism lead to development of drug therapies
+ forms basis of scientific research, increasing validity
- solely focusing on biology of a disorder can mean other factors are ignored and untreated, potentially leading to reoccurance
- oversimplifies = lack of validity
- insufficient explanation