Levels of explanation: Holism and reductionism

• Holism - proposes that it only makes sense to study an indivisible system rather than constituent parts.

  The whole is greater than the sum of its parts - just looking at certain elements is innappropriate
• Reductionism - the belief that human behaviour is best understood by breaking it down into its constituent parts and basic units and explaining at the simplest level
• Level of explanations - this is the idea that there are several ways (levels) of explaining behaviour.

  The lowest level considers biological/physiological explanations

  The middle level considers psychological explanations

  The highest level considers social and cultural explanations
• Levels of explanations

  There are different ways and levels of viewing the same phenomena in psychology - some more reductionist and some are more holistic
• Examples of level of explanations

  Aggression can be understood at various levels: basic physiological level - high levels of testosterone. Social-psychological level - social learning theory.
• Biological reductionism - analysing behaviour by breaking it down into its constituent parts and explaining at the simplest physiological level.

  Examples are biological explanation of OCD and fight or flight response
• Environmental reductionism - an attempt to explain behaviour in terms of simple stimulus-response links that have been learned through experience

  Examples - social learning theory and behaviourist approach
• AO3 - the case for Holism/higher levels of explanation

  Often there are aspects of social behaviour that only emerge within a group contact and cannot be understood at the level of the individual group members. Conformity is an example.

  Shows that holistic levels of explanation provide more complete and global understanding of behaviour rather than reductionist approaches
• AO3 - the case against Holism/higher levels of explanation

  Holistic explanations tend to not lend themselves to scientific testing and can become vague and speculative as they become more complex.

  Humanistic psychology tends to be criticised for its lack of empirical evidence and is just seen as many loose concepts.

  If we accept that there are many factors that contribute to behaviour then it becomes difficult to pinpoint the cause.
• AO3 - the case for reductionism/lower levels of explanation

  A reductionist approach often forms the basis of scientific research. In order to create operationalised variables it is necessary to break behaviours down into parts. This makes it possible to conduct experiments in a way that is meaningful and reliable

  In the behaviourist approach this shows how complex learning could be broken down into simple stimulus-response which gives psychology greater credibility
• AO3 - the case against reductionism/lower levels of explanation

  Reductionist approaches have been accused of oversimplifying complex topics leading to loss of validity.

  Explanations that are simple do not include analysis of the social contact within the behaviour adducts.

  Reductionist explanations can only ever form part of an explanation