the holism-reductionism debate

Question 1

what approach to humanistic psychologists take on

Answer 1

holistic

Question 2

what approach do behaviourists take

Answer 2

reductionist

Question 3

explain holism

Answer 3

• looks at a system as a whole and doesnt divide behaviour/experiences
• use qualitative methods to investigate the self

Question 4

what are the strengths to holism

Answer 4

• reflects real experiences more than a reductionist approach. Increased ecological validity
• this approach is well suited to promoting and encouraging good mental health 9Rogers client centred therapy)

Question 5

what are the limitations to holism

Answer 5

• limited in terms of emperical evidence. Lacks scientific rigour as it cant be easily tested and relies on subjective accounts rather than controlled conditions. Therefore low in reliability.
• may become ‘messy’ for researchers. If there are too many variables at play. Can effect its credibility.

Question 6

explain reductionism

Answer 6

human behaviour considered best understood by studying smaller constituent parts.

Question 7

under reductionism, what levels of explanation are there

Answer 7

• socio-cultural (OCD interups social relationshiops)
• psychological (persons experience of anxiety)
• physical (movements like hand washing)
• environmental/behavioural
• physiological (abnormal functioning in frontal lobe)
• neurochemical (underproduction of serotonin)

Question 8

what are the strengths to reductionism

Answer 8

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