Holism + reductionism

• Holism

  • Ppl + behaviour should be studied as a whole system
  • View shared by humanistic approach
• Reductionism

  • Analyse behaviour by breaking down into smaller parts
  • Based on principle of parsimony - all phenomena should be explained using basic + simple principles
• Levels of explanation

  • Suggests there are different ways of viewing same phenomena in psych
  • E.g: OCD can be understood in different ways = socio cultural level : behaviour most ppl would consider odd + Neurochemical level: underproduction of serotonin
  • Each level more reductionist
  • Sociology , psychology , biology, chemistry , physics
• Biological reductionism

  • We are made up of physiological structures + processes - all behaviour is some what biological + can be explained through neurochemical , evolutionary + genetic influences
  • Assumption has been successfully applied to explanation + treatment of mental illnesses
• Environmental reductionism

  • Behaviourists study observable behaviour + break complex learning into simple stimulus - response links
  • Approach not concerned with cognitive processes at psychological level - processes occur at physical level
• Strength of holism: explains aspects of social behaviour

  • Some social behaviours only emerge within a group context + can’t be understood at level of individual group members
  • E.g: effects of de-individualisation of prisoners + guards in SPE couldn’t be understood by studying pps as individuals - interactions mattered
  • Shows that holistic explanations needed for a more complete understating of behaviour ( than reductionist)
• Limitation of holism: impractical


  • Explanation doesn’t lend itself to rigorous scientific testing + becomes vague as becomes more complex
  • E.g: accepts there are contributing factors to depression but its difficult to establish which is most influential + which to use as basis for therapy
  • Suggests that when it comes to finding solution for real world problems, reductionism may be more suitable
• Strength of reductionism: : scientific creditability


  • Approach often forms basis of scientific research
  • Target behaviours are reduced to constituent parts to create operationalised variables
  • Makes it possible to conduct experiments + record observations in a reliable way
  • Gives psych greater credibility , placing it on equal terms with natural sciences
• Limitation of reductionism: Lacks validity 


  • Reductionist explanations at the level of genes or neurotransmitters oversimplify complex phenomena = lose validity
  • Fails to analyse social context of behaviour , which is where the behaviour derived its meaning
  • Means reductionism can only ever for part of an explanation