Reductionism Flashcards
What is reductionism?
Reductionism is breaking a complex phenomenon down into more simple components.
Why is reductionism desirable?
It is desirable because complex phenomena are best understood in terms of a simpler level of explanation.
What is another term for reductionism?
Reductionism is also known as ‘Parsimony’.
What does the Principle of Parsimony suggest?
The Principle of Parsimony suggests that all phenomena should be explained using the simplest principles.
What are the levels of reductionism?
There are three levels: highest level (least reductionist) - cultural and social explanations; medium level - psychological explanations; lower level (most reductionist) - biological explanations.
Can memory be explained at different levels?
Yes, memory can be explained at all levels.
What social and cultural factors affect?
Social and cultural factors affect what we remember.
What is the psychological explanation of memory?
The psychological explanation of memory refers to episodic memories.
What is the biological explanation of memory?
The biological explanation of memory involves areas of the brain where certain memories are stored.
What is Biological Reductionism?
Biological psychologists reduce behaviour to the action of neurons, hormones and neurotransmitters.
Example: Crime can be explained by low levels of serotonin, high levels of noradrenaline. Schizophrenia can be explained by excessive dopamine; drugs that block dopamine reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia.
What is Environmental Reductionism?
Behaviourists state that all behaviour can be explained in terms of stimulus response links, a relationship between behaviour and events in the environment.
Example: In attachment, mother provides food, this removes hunger, gives pleasure, she is rewarding so becomes a loved one.
What is Experimental Reductionism?
Reducing complex behaviour to isolated variables is a useful strategy for conducting research, behaviours are reduced to operationalised variables that can be manipulated and measured to determine causal relationships.
