Reductionism Flashcards
1
Q
What is reductionism ?
A
The best way of understanding a complex system is to break it down, analyse individual parts and put it back together.
2
Q
What is holism ?
A
The best way of understanding a complex system is to look at the whole, considering how the individual elements interact with each other.
3
Q
Strengths of reductionism.
A
- Isolating operationalised IVs to accurately measure the DV establishing cause and effect relationships.
- Easier to falsify concepts e.g. assuming low activity in PFC is cause of aggression through use of brain scanning.
- Has more applications to society - easy to produce solutions off the back of simple explanations.
- Allows for hypothesis testing assuming simple processes allows for research to be conducted - highly scientific.
- Operationalisation of variables allows for ease of replication and allows for measurable concepts.
4
Q
Weaknesses of reductionism.
A
- Lack of ecological validity - isolating IVs and controlling EVs/CVs doesn’t allow for true reflection of real world behaviour.
- Humans are complex beings - ignoring and neglecting psychological, social, cultural factors fails to acknowledge this.
- Many other theoretical concepts/ideas are overlooked.
- Applications can be harmful.
- Operationalisation often results in lack of validity - can we really study complex behaviours to reflect real life - lack of mundane realism.
- Animal studies don’t reflect human experience.
5
Q
State 2 examples of reductionism in the Bio approach with a strength and weakness for each.
A
- Brain structure - useful exploring aggression and falsify ideas with increased scientific status however this fails to consider social context or environment influences of aggressive behaviour.
- Hormones - led to effective treatments e.g. hormone therapy however psychological treatments can be just as effective.
6
Q
State 2 examples of holism in bio with a strength and weakness for each.
A
