reductionism- holism

Question 1

define holism

Answer 1

an approach to understanding the human mind and behavior that focuses on looking at things as a whole.

Question 2

examples of holistic approaches

Answer 2

Holistic approaches include Humanism, Social and Gestalt psychology and makes use of the case study method.

Question 3

example of a holistic method of mental health

Answer 3

Jahoda’s 6 elements of Optimal Living are an example of a holistic approach to defining abnormality.

Question 4

holism strengths AO3 X4

Answer 4

1. Looks at everything that may impact on behavior.
2. Does not ignore the complexity of behavior.
3. Integrates different components of behavior in order to understand the person as a whole.
4. Can be higher in ecological validity.

Question 5

holism weaknesses AO3 X5

Answer 5

1. Over complicates behaviors which may have simpler explanations (Occam’s Razor).
2. Does not lend itself to the scientific method and empirical testing.
3. Makes it hard to determine cause and effect.
4. Neglects the importance of biological explanations.
5. Almost impossible to study all the factors that influence complex human behaviours

Question 6

define reductionism

Answer 6

is the belief that human behaviour can be explained by breaking it down into smaller component parts- looking into the simplest parts.

Question 7

explanation that is reductionist

Answer 7

biological explanations (e.g. genetics, neurotransmitters, hormones) of complex human behaviors such as schizophrenia, gender and aggression.

Question 8

examples of how approaches use reductionism X3

Answer 8

1. Cognitive psychology with its use of the computer analogy reduces behavior to the level of a machine, mechanistic reductionism.
2. behaviorist psychology sees behavior in terms of simple stimulus/response relationships.
3. the psychodynamic perspective reduces behavior to unconscious motivation and early childhood experiences.

Question 9

reductionist strengths

Answer 9

1. The use of a reductionist approach to behavior can be a useful one in allowing scientific study to be carried out. Scientific study requires the isolation of variables to make it possible to identify the causes of behavior. For example, research into the genetic basis on mental disorders has enabled researchers to identify specific genes believed to be responsible for schizophrenia. This way a reductionist approach enables the scientific causes of behavior to be identified and advances the possibility of scientific study.
2. A reductionist approach to studying mental disorders has led to the development of effective chemical treatments

Question 10

reductionist weaknesses

Answer 10

The disadvantage is that it can be over simplistic. Humans and their environments are so complex that the reductionist explanation falls short of giving the whole explanation of the behavior. Thus, it lacks ecological validity