Reductionism vs Holism

Question 1

What is reductionism?

Answer 1

Breaking down thoughts and actions into the smallest, simplest parts

Question 2

What is holism?

Answer 2

The whole person as an inseparable system

Question 3

What are the levels of explanation?

Answer 3

The various levels available when considering a behaviour. This debate asks whether it is appropriate to look at one level specifically or whether more than one level is appropriate

Question 4

What are the 8 levels of explanation?

Answer 4

Social cognition, social groups and family, interpersonal interaction, cognition and emotion, learned associations, genetics, cellular biology, biochemistry

Question 5

What is social cognition when a man attacks someone that killed his daughter?

Answer 5

The father thinking the attacker is evil and deserves to suffer for what he has done

Question 6

What’s social groups and family when a man attacks someone for killing his daughter?

Answer 6

The father may have seen aggressive responses to others as a child so respond in a similar way

Question 7

What’s interpersonal interaction when a man attacks someone for killing his daughter?

Answer 7

The father may have seen and received threats from the killer in the past

Question 8

What’s cognition and emotion when a man attacks someone for killing his daughter?

Answer 8

The father may react with violence because of all the extreme emotion of anger and grief

Question 9

What’s learned associations when a man attacks someone for killing his daughter?

Answer 9

The father may have felt that the killer should receive physical punishment for what he has done or he may have acted to an inappropriate comment without thinking because he is auditioned to do so

Question 10

What’s genetics when a man attacks someone for killing his daughter?

Answer 10

The father may possess the MAOA gene

Question 11

What’s cellular biology when a man attacks someone for killing his daughter?

Answer 11

The fathers serotonin may have been affected because serotonin is implicated in aggression

Question 12

What’s biochemistry when a man attacks someone for killing his daughter?

Answer 12

The father may have had alcohol in his bloodstream which reduced control and inhibitions

Question 13

What’s biological reductionism?

Answer 13

It explains behaviour using biological systems eg genetics, physiology of the body, brain or biochemistry. It’s the most reductionist

Question 14

What’s environmental reductionism?

Answer 14

It simplifies a behaviour to a stimulus-response action where behaviour is learnt by association

Question 15

What’s a strength of holism?

Answer 15

There is evidence to support a holism approach. Zimbardos prison study could not be understood by studying the participants as individuals but the interaction between people and the behaviour of the group

Question 16

What’s two limitations of holism?

Answer 16

They cannot be tested scientifically and therefore research can become vague as there is a lack of empirical evidence. Also, it may not be appropriate in explaining real world problems as it may be difficult to establish the most influential basis for therapy

Question 17

What’s two strengths of reductionism?

Answer 17

It can be tested as there is fewer factors to consider which means that empirical work can be conduced and it can be considered as an academic subject

Question 18

What’s two limitations of reductionism?

Answer 18

While looking at one simple explanation others may be ignoring and underplayed. This can lead to disorders reoccurring as all the factors have not been considered. Also, the purely biological route has low validity because the complexity involved means that a combination of theories should be used

Question 19

What’s an interactive stance?

Answer 19

How the different levels of explanation may combine and interact

Question 20

How does relationships relate to the holism/reductionism debate?

Answer 20

Biological reductionism suggests that we choose a partner due to our biological make-up. However the theories of relationship maintenance and attraction look at an interaction between two people and this is more holistic

Question 21

How does stress relate to the holism/reductionism debate?

Answer 21

The role of cortisol in stress is reductionist as it suggests there’s a biochemical reason. However stressors such as life changes and daily hassles take a more holistic stance considering the context the individual is in

Question 22

How does aggression relate to the holism/reductionism debate?

Answer 22

The MAOA gene is biological reductionism as it can affect aggression. However it’s dependent on the environment and the theory of deindividuation is a more holistic approach