Holism and Reductionism

• What is the holism vs. reductionism debate?

  It concerns whether psychological phenomena are best understood by looking at the whole person (holism) or by breaking behaviour down into parts (reductionism).
• What is holism in psychology?

  Holism is the idea that human behaviour should be viewed as a whole experience, not just the sum of its parts.
• What is reductionism in psychology?

  Reductionism involves breaking down complex behaviour into simpler components or explanations.
• What is biological reductionism?

  Explaining behaviour in terms of genes, neurochemicals, or brain structure (e.g., using serotonin levels to explain depression).
• What is environmental reductionism?

  Explaining behaviour using stimulus–response links, often associated with the behaviourist approach.
• What is experimental reductionism?

  Reducing complex behaviour to isolated variables to study them under controlled conditions in a lab.
• What is an example of a holistic approach?

  Humanistic psychology focuses on subjective experience and the individual as a whole, not reducible parts.
• What is the levels of explanation model?

  A concept proposing that behaviour can be explained at multiple levels, from the biological to the social/cultural.
• What is a strength of holism?

  It provides a more complete understanding of behaviour by considering all factors, including social context and interactions.
• What is a limitation of holism?

  It may lack scientific rigour, as holistic explanations can be vague and difficult to test empirically.
• What is a strength of reductionism?

  It is scientific and testable, allowing for controlled experiments and identification of cause and effect.
• What is a limitation of reductionism?

  It may oversimplify complex behaviours, ignoring the influence of context, social factors, or subjective experience.
• What is the lowest level of explanation?

  The biological level, which includes brain structure, neurochemistry, and genetics (e.g., serotonin levels in depression).
• What is the middle level of explanation?

  The psychological level, which includes cognitive and behavioural explanations (e.g., faulty thinking patterns in depression).
• What is the highest level of explanation?

  The social and cultural level, which involves how behaviour is influenced by social context, group norms, and cultural expectations.