Holism v Reductionism

Cards (8)

  • Reductionism - Best understand behaviours by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable parts.
  • Holism- Looking at an individual as a whole
  • Reductionism is deterministic
  • Types of reductionism
    Biological reductionism - Physiological structured determine behaviour.
    Environmental determinism - Stimulus- response links to behaviorism. Environment determines behaviour.
  • Strengths of reductionism?

    High prediction
    Scientific
  • Weaknesses of reductionsm?

    Oversimplified
    Deterministic
  • Strengths of determinism
    More complete understanding of human behaviour
  • Weaknesses of Holism
    Non-scientific
    over-complicated