REDUCTIONISM VS HOLISM

• What is Holism?

  Holism is the belief that systems should be viewed as a whole, rather than as a collection of individual parts.
• What is reductionism?

  belief that complex behaviour is best explained by breaking it down and studying it in smaller components
• what are the two types of reductionism?

  biological reductionism

  environmental reductionism
• what is biological reductionism?

  all behaviour is biological at some level and can be explained by using the biological approach
• what is environmental reductionism?

  reducing the study of behaviour to observable, physical level. not concerned with cognitive processes
• what is environmental reductionism also known as?

  stimulus response reudctionism
• what are the three levels of explanation?

  socio-cultural

  psychological

  biological
• what are levels of explanation?

  different ways of explaining behaviour in psychology, some are more reductionist than others. Higher levels focus on broad factors whilst lower levels break behaviour down into narrow components
• examples of biological reductionism

  explaining aggression through the MAOA gene

  Reducing OCD down to lack of serotonin
• examples of environmental reductionism

  Phobias develop as a result of stimulus response

  Social psychological explanation of aggression
• Evaluation point 1

  STRENGTH of Holism

  some behaviours only emerge in a group context and cannot be understood by focusing on individuals for example in social psychology, a holistic or higher level of explanation is needed
• Evaluation point 2

  STRENGTH of reductionism

  scientific credibility, allow variables to be operationalised as they focus on one specific aspect of behaviour, variables can be manipulated and measured. Allows psychology to be similar to hard sciences
• Evaluation point 3

  LIMITATION of reductionism

  lacks validity, they oversimplify complex behaviour too much where the explanation is meaningless, this can lead to inappropriate applications eg using drugs for mental disorders without addressing problem in the environment. Reductionist explanations can only form part of an explanation
• Evaluation point 4

  STRENGTH of both

  the interactionist approach considers how different levels of explanation combine and interact. The Diathesis stress model explains disorders, saying a genetic factor must be triggered by a stressful event (environment). Led to more multidisciplinary and holistic approach to treatment eg combining drugs and therapy