Holism Vs Reductionism

• What is Holism?

  • The whole is greater than the sum of its parts
  • We can't predict how a system will behave just by looking at individual components and piecing them together
  • We must study the whole person
• What is reductionism?

  • The belief that complex behaviour is best explained by breaking it down and studying its smaller most basic components
  • Considered to be the simplest and easiest way to explain human behaviour
• What are the two types of Reductionism?

  • Biological Reductionism
  • Environmental (stimulus-response) Reductionism
• What is Biological Reductionism?

  All behaviour is biological at some level and can be explained using the biological approach
• What is Environmental (stimulus-response) Reductionism?

  • Behaviour is studied at the observable, physical level
  • Cognitive processes are considered to be irrelevant only external factors are measured
• What are the different Levels of Explanation?

  • Higher level (least reductionist)

  -Cultural and social factors

  • Middle level

  -Psychological factors (cognitive/behavioural)

  • Lower level (most reductionist)

  -Biological factors
• Strengths of Reductionism:

  • Scientific - allows variables to be operationalised
  • Allows psychology to be similar to hard sciences lower down the reductionist hierarchy
• Limitations of Reductionism:

  • Less valid - reductionism oversimplifies complex behaviour
  • May be inappropriate e.g. using drugs to treat mental disorders as it does not address problems in the environment
• Strengths of Holism:

  • Some behaviours only emerge in a group context and can’t be understood by focussing on individuals
  • More complete explanation
  • E.g. Standford prison experiment, obedience, conformity
• Limitations of Holism:

  • Can become vague and speculative and are therefore not scientific
  • If we accept that many factors contribute to a behaviour, it is difficult to establish the most important to focus on e.g. for therapy