Reductionism vs Holism Flashcards
introductary para
- debate is concerned with level at which it is approapriate to explain human behaviour
- levels of explanation
what is levels of explanation?
refers to fact that there are different ways of viewing some phenomena in psychology
examples of level of explanations
13 levels:
- most holistic: cultural, socio-political, sub-cultural (sociology)
- most reductionist: quantum physics
holism approach
proposes that it only makes sense to study an indivisable system rather than its constitutent parts
reductionism approach
behaviour is explained by breaking it down into smaller constitutent parts. either biological or environmental
examples of holism approach
humanist- looks at whole person
examples of reductionist approach
behavioural- environmental
biological- chemical level
when does holism come in?
using a learning explanation to explain why someone may kill someone as its too simple
examples of levels of explanation in topics
- someone takes drugs due to normative social influence to friends or can be due to genetics (faulty gene)
- depression due to low serotonin (biochem) or due to faulty thinking (cognitive)
what do interactionists say
believe that all explanations have relevance and each situation should be viewed individually
evaluation of holism approach
S: Zimbardo’s experiement is very important in understadning human behaviour as looks as way interacts w social roles. sees multiple factors
W: lacks practical value as too vague as too difficult to know which factors most influential eg depression past present future. reductionist may be better
evaluation of reductionist approach
S: to conduct well controlled research need to operationalise making it reliable eg SS. scientific approach gives greater creditability
W: oversimplifies complex phenomena, explanations with level of genes dont include social context eg depression due to low serotonin. forms partial explanation
