Reductionism and Holism Flashcards
What is holism?
It argues that behaviour cannot be understood in terms of the components that make them up. ‘The whole being greater than the sum of it’s parts’
Often referred to as Gestalt psychology
What do holist psychologists study?
The whole person to gain an understanding of all the factors that might influence behaviour. Holism uses several levels of explanation including biological, environment and social factors
What do holistic approaches include?
Humanism, Social and Gestalt psychology and makes use of the case study method
Jahoda’s 6 elements of optimal living are an example of a holistic approach to defining abnormality
What are the strengths of the holistic approach?
Looks at everything that may impact behaviour
Does not ignore the complexity of behaviour
Integrates different components of behaviour in order to understand the person as a whole
Can be higher in ecological validity
What are the limitations of the holistic approach?
Over complicates behaviour which may have simpler explanations (Occam’s Razor)
Does not lend itself to the scientific method and empirical testing
Makes it hard to determine cause and effect
Neglects the importance of biological explanations
Almost impossible to study all the factors that influence complex human behaviours
What is reductionism?
The belief that human behaviour can be explained by breaking it down into smaller component parts
Reductionists say that the best way to understand why we behave as we do it is look closely at the very simplest parts that make up our systems and use the simplest explanations to understand how they work
What is biological reductionism?
Bases on the premise that we are biological organisms and all behaviours can be explained through neurochemistry, evolutionary or genetic explanations
Biological explanations have been successfully applied to areas such as depression , schizophrenia and the use of psychoactive drugs
How are biological explanations reductionist and what is the problem with this?
Biological explanations of complex human behaviours such as schizophrenia, gender and aggression are legitimately criticised for ignoring psychological, social and cultural factors
In what way is the cognitive approach reductionist?
With its use of the computer analogy it reduces behaviour to the level of a machine (machine reductionism)
How are the behaviourist and psychodynamic approaches reductionist?
Behaviourist - sees behaviour in terms of simple stimulus and response relationships
Psychodynamic - reduces behaviour to unconscious motivation and early childhood experiences
What is environmental reductionism?
The concept behaviourism is built upon
Behaviourists only study observable behaviours which link to stimulus-response so behaviourists are concerned with a physical level rather than with mental processes - the mind is regarded as a ‘black box’ which is irrelevant to out understanding of behaviour
What are the strengths of the reductionist approach?
It is useful in allowing scientific study to be carried out as scientific study requires the isolation of variables to make it possible to identify the causes of behaviour
A reductionist approach to studying mental disorders has led to the development of effective chemical treatment
What is an example of the reductionist approach allowing for scientific study?
Research into the genetic basis of mental disorders had enabled researchers to identify specific genes believed to be responsible for Sz - this way a reductionist approach enables the scientific causes of behaviour to be identify and advances the possibility of scientific study
What are the limitations of the reductionist approach?
The disadvantage is that it can be over simplistic. Humans and environments are so complex that the reductionist explanations falls short of giving the whole explanations of the behaviour and thus lacks ecological validity
Doe not address larger societal issues e.g. poverty
What are levels of explanation in psychology?
Different ways of viewing the phenomena in psychology e.g. OCD may be understood in a social-cultural context, at a psychological level like having irrational thoughts, at a physical level like a sequence of movement or at a physiological level - it is hypersensitivity of the basal ganglia and neurochemical level as the underproduction of serotonin
Each is more reductionist than the one before it - psychology itself is within a hierarchy
