Holism vs Reductionism

• Holism: An argument or theory which proposes that it only makes sense to study an indivisible system rather than it's constituent parts.
• Reductionism: The belief that human behaviour is best understood by studying the smaller constituent parts.
• Levels of explanation: The idea that there are several ways that can be used to explain behaviour. The lowest level considers physiological explanations, the middle considers psychological explanations and the highest level looks at social explanations.
• Biological reductionism: A form of reductionism which attempts to explain behaviour at the lowest biological level (in terms of genes and hormones).
• Environmental reductionism: The attempt to explain all behaviour in terms of stimulus-response links that have been learned through experience.
• The holism/reductionism debate:

  • Questions which is the best approach to use to understand human behaviour.
  • For example humanistic psychologists use a more holistic approach whereas behaviourists are reductionists.
• Holistic psychologists-

  • The whole is greater than the sum of it's points.
  • Focuses on individual experience which can't be reduced down to biological units for example.
• Levels of explanation (Reductionist approach):

  • Socio-cultural - e.g. OCD interrupts social relationships.
  • Psychological level- e.g. the persons experience of OCD
  • Physical level- e.g. Movements such as washing hands
  • Environmental level- e.g. learning experiences
  • Physiological level- e.g. abnormal functioning of the frontal lobe
  • Neurochemical level- e.g. underproduction of serotonin.

  Each level is more reductionist than the one before.
• Biological reductionism:

  • Includes genetic and evolutionary influences.
  • Based on premise we are all biological organisms.
• Environmental reductionism:

  • Proposed all behaviour is learnt.
  • Focuses on conditioning.
• Holism Evaluation (limitation)

  • It may lack practical value.
  • There are many different factors that affect a persons behaviour.
  • By not looking at the different parts it make it harder to understand this behaviour.
• Reductionism Evaluation (strength)

  • Often forms basis of scientific approach.
  • This approach gives psychology greater credibility, placing it on equal terms with natural science.
• Reductionism Evaluation (limitation)

  • Causes reduced validity because it may oversimplify complex phenomena.
  • Reductionist explanations can only form part of a full holistic explanation.
• Reductionism Evaluation (limitation)

  • Some behaviours can only be understood at a more holistic level.
  • For example, you ay have to look at social roles and conformity to see why someone acted the way they did.
  • This suggest that for some behaviour holistic explanations could provide a more valid account.