Reductionism

Question 1

Reductionism

Answer 1

• Argues that the best way to explain behaviour is by breaking down complex phenomena into simple components
• Reductionists argue that this is preferable as complex phenomena are best understood in terms of its smaller parts
• From reductionist pov behaviour best explained by looking at the simplest and easiest level of explanation.

Question 2

What are Levels of Explanation

Answer 2

• Highest Level - cultural and social explanations
• Middle level - psychological explanations of behaviour
• Lower level - biological explanations

Question 3

Examples of Levels of explanations - Memory

Answer 3

• Can consider any behaviour in terms of all 3 levels
• Memory can be explained at a social level in terms of how cultural explanations affect what we remember
• Memory can also be explained at a psychological level in terms of episodic memories
• Also explained at biological level in terms of the areas of the brain where memories are stored

Question 4

Examples of levels of explanations - Morgan

Answer 4

• Should be clear that no one explanation in isolation can be taken as correct and several explanations at several levels would be more appropriate
• The principle of parsimony suggested by Morgan states that there is no need to explain behaviour in complex terms
• Explanations should be as simple as possible
• Are the explanations that can be regarded as reductionist and there are several ways in which reductionism can occur

Question 5

Biological Reductionism

Answer 5

• Belief that all human behaviour can be reduced to a physical level
• Could be genetics, physiology of the body and brain or biochemistry
• Genetic argument for the origins of aggression has commonly be explained in these terms
• Example - idea that COMT gene can affect OCD is simple and focused at the chromosomal level

Question 6

Environmental Reductionism

Answer 6

• When behaviour is simplified to a stimulus response action
• Behaviourist approach advocates this level of explanation - conditioning
• If we look at development of attachment, behaviourists reduce complex emotion of attachment to a series of rewards and reinforcers
• Mother is rewarding individual and becomes loved as she provides the food which is reinforcing

Question 7

Gender and Reductionism

Answer 7

• Chromosomal explanation argues that gender is rooted in biology
• Baby will be a girl if fertilising sperm carries an X chromosome, baby will be a boy if fertilising sperm carries Y chromosome

Question 8

Schizophrenia and Reductionism

Answer 8

• Dopamine hypothesis adopts a biologically reductionist stance as it suggests high levels of activity of dopamine in subcortex and high levels of dopamine receptors in the Broca’s area

Question 9

Forensics and Reductionism

Answer 9

• Genetic explanation is clearly biologically reductionist as it argues that cranial behaviour is due to an individual’s genetic makeup

Question 10

Psychopathology and Reductionism

Answer 10

• Phobia of snakes can be explained as learned through an experience such as a snake bite
• Fear and pain are associated with a snake
• When a snake is next encountered the individual will avoid it as they experience a strong fearful reaction

Question 11

Evaluation of Reductionsim - precise and simple explanation

Answer 11

• More scientific than any of the higher more general levels of explanation
• Ideas can be tested more easily such as blood tests for adrenaline levels. Being able to break down things into parts means we can operationalise variables and conduct experiments
• Strength - gives psychology greater scientific credibility

Question 12

However - precise and simple explanation

Answer 12

• If lower levels are taken in isolation then the meaning of behaviour can be overlooked and my lead to fundamental errors of understanding or distract us from a more appropriate level of explanation
• Prescribing Ritalin to hyperactive children may miss the real cause of the behaviour
• Weakness - access to more appropriate therapies with lower relapse rates will be missed

Question 13

Evaluation of Reductionism - Development of drugs

Answer 13

• Biological reductionism means that drug therapies have been developed and this has lead to less mentally ill patients living in institutions
• SSRIs and tricyclics for depression are a more humane approach to the treatment of mental illness that institutionalisation or ECT partly as the blame does not lie with the patient, in turn leads to greater tolerance of mental illness
• Strength - stigma associated with mental illness may be significantly reduced and at the same time quality of life for people with mental health problems has been greatly incresed

Question 14

• However - development of drugs

Answer 14

• Success rates are variable and dont address the cause of the problem
• Reducing mental illness to biological level ignores other explanations
• Psychological explanations do not take into account the context of the behaviour and have produced many successful therapies such as CBT
• Weakness - oversimplifies the complex phenomena and leads to loss of validity