Reductionism & Holism

Question 1

What is holism?

Answer 1

Looking at the whole experience and individual, arguing that behaviour cant be understood in terms of the components that make them up

Question 2

What is reductionism?

Answer 2

The belief that human behaviour can be explained by breaking down complex behaviours and phenomena into smaller components

Question 3

What do reductionists believe?

Answer 3

The best way to understand complex behaviours is to look at the smallest and simplest parts which make it up

Question 4

What are levels of explanation?

Answer 4

Different ways of viewing the same phenomena in psychology

Question 5

What does reductionism suggest about levels of explanation?

Answer 5

Lower levels will eventually replace higher levels

Question 6

What is the highest level of explanation?

Answer 6

Cultural and social explanations of behaviour

Question 7

What is the middle level of explanation?

Answer 7

Psychological explanations of behaviour

Question 8

What is the lower level of explanation?

Answer 8

Biological explanations of behaviour

Question 9

What are two types of reductionism?

Answer 9

Biological

Environmental

Question 10

What is biological reductionism?

Answer 10

Reducing behaviour to biology as it based on the premise that we are biological organisms

Question 11

What is environmental reductionism?

Answer 11

Behaviourist explanations suggest that all behaviour can be explained in terms of simple stimulus response links

Question 12

What are strengths of holism?

Answer 12

• It looks at everything that impact on 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

Question 13

What are weaknesses of holism?

Answer 13

• Over complicates behaviours which may have simpler explanations
• 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
• Little predictive value - a lot is theoretical

Question 14

What are strengths of reductionism?

Answer 14

• consistent with the scientific approach
• practical application in the development of drug therapy
• Ignores the complexity of behaviour
• Analytical
• Smaller units more easily tested

Question 15

What are weaknesses of reductionism?

Answer 15

• Over simplistic
• Lacks ecological validity
• Does not address larger societal issues
• Value of explanation - may not give a full account of human behaviour

Question 16

What is a quote to use to describe holism?

Answer 16

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”

Question 17

What is interactionism?

Answer 17

Many levels of explanation which combine together to give a more complete explanation

Question 18

What is the theory of parsimony?

Answer 18

Complex issues should be explained in the simplest of terms

“Parsimonious”

Question 19

Is the behaviourism approach holistic or reductionistic?

Answer 19

Reductionistic

Question 20

Is biopsychology holistic or reductionistic?

Answer 20

Reductionistic

Question 21

Is humanism holistic or reductionistic?

Answer 21

Holistic

Question 22

Is psychoanalysis holistic or reductionistic?

Answer 22

Holistic