Reductionism v Holism

Question 1

What is the Reductionist viewpoint?

Answer 1

The scientific view that human behaviour is best explained by breaking it down into its component parts

Question 2

What is Parismony?

Answer 2

The idea that complex behaviour should always be explained in its component parts

Question 3

What is Biological Reductionism? + example

Answer 3

• Reduces behaviour to its physical level
• Single biological components such as genetics, neurons, neurotransmitters and hormones
• E.g. SZ being caused by excess dopamine is reducing SZ to the single component of dopamine

Question 4

What is Environmental Reductionism + example

Answer 4

• Behaviourism reduces behaviour to S-R (stimulus-responce)
• Complex behaviour is explained by a number of S-R chains
• E.g. Learning Theories of Attachment - reduces attachment down to S-R when baby feels pleasure when fed by mother, so associate these feelings with CS (mum)

Question 5

What are the Levels of Explanation?

Answer 5

• Rose (1976)
• Lowest = Biological Explanations - behaviour explained in its smallest parts including genetics, neurochemicals and biological structures (reductionist)
• Middle level explanations = reduce behaviour to Psychological explanations (cognitive and behavioural/environmental)
• Highest level explanations considers both social and cultural explanations, behaviour explained in regards to influence of social groups.
• Note: Highest level still reductionist just less so than the others

Question 6

Rank the Approaches from Reductionist -> Holistic

Answer 6

-Reductionist-
Biological
Behaviourist
Cognitive
Psychodynamic
Humanism
-Holistic-

Question 7

Biological Explanations (lvl 1) examples

Answer 7

1. Biological explanations OCD and SZ
2. Genetic and neural explanations offending
3. Mirror neurons

Question 8

Psychological Explanations (lvl 2) examples

Answer 8

• Learning theories (behaviourism) 1. attachment (cupboard love)
  2. two process model phobias
• Cognitive explanations (cognitive) 3. Beck depression,
  4. Kohlberg Lomr + CD’
  5. Cognitive explanation SZ

Question 9

Social and Cultural Explanations (lvl 3) examples

Answer 9

Sutherland DAT

Question 10

What is the only holistic theory?

Answer 10

Humanism (incl Maslow hierarchy, Roger’s PCT)

Question 11

Explain the Holistic side of the debate

Answer 11

• Human behaviour should be viewed as a whole integrated experience and not through separating its parts
• Supported by Gestalt Psychology - we only perceive the world accurately if we consider the whole image. So if we separate behaviour into parts, then complex behaviour will be misunderstood
• Humanistic psychologists also use qualitative methods to support their holistic investigations
• E.g. Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs” considers all contributors to behaviour

Question 12

Implication of Reductionism (science)

Answer 12

• ✅ Scientific Study
  
  • Breaking down behaviour into controllable variables enables scientific inquiry through experiments which manipulate and measure these variables.
  • In turn allows us to provide empirical support for psychological theories
  • This style of simple and objective studying is supported by theoretical explanation Parismony (simple explanation is best)

Question 13

Implications of Reductionism (treatments)

Answer 13

• ✅ Treatments
  
  • Because variables are isolated, allows for use of targeted treatments
  • Like drug treatments OCD = SSRI’s because target Serotonin, or dopamine antagonists

Question 14

Consequence of Reductionism (complexity)

Answer 14

• ❌ Complex behaviour
  
  • Oversimplifies the complex nature of human behaviour
  • By neglecting other factors we are left with an incomplete understanding
  • E.g. complex conditions like OCD and SZ, we may lose sight of the behaviour in its context, meaning we wont understand its full extent, validity

Question 15

Implication of Holism (inter)

Answer 15

• ✅ Interactionist
  
  • An interactionist perspective provides a more comprehensive insight into conditions
  • Makes it a more valid explanation

Question 16

Implication of Holism (levels)

Answer 16

• ✅ Take all levels into account
  
  • A holistic view aims to comprehend human behaviour by considering all levels of explanation
  • By encompassing subjective experience, free will and motivation will lead to a more thorough and accurate explanation/understanding

Question 17

Consequence of Holism (treatments)

Answer 17

• ❌ Treatments
  
  • By acknowledging there is a plethora of contributors to behaviour the explanation becomes more and more complex
  • This will make it more difficult to create a targeted treatment or therapy

Question 18

Consequence of Holism (untestable)

Answer 18

• ❌ Untestable
  
  • The untestable nature of a holistic theory makes it lacking in objectivity (more subjective) and therefore harder to evidence
  • A better stance to understand a whole person would be to start with a reductionist approach and break behaviour down into objective and measurable parts