holism V reductionism

• What do many psychologists prefer when explaining behavior?

  A clear, precise explanation
• Why might someone be aggressive according to psychologists?

  Due to positive reinforcement of past aggression
• What is a benefit of having a reductionist explanation for behavior?

  It allows for testing simple explanations
• How can genetic tests help in understanding disorders?

  By identifying certain genes in populations
• What can studies correlating adult aggression with childhood experiences help with?

  They can assist in treatment approaches
• What is a potential treatment if genes affect neurotransmitter levels?

  Drug treatments to correct imbalances
• What is a criticism of reductionist explanations in psychology?

  They may oversimplify complex behaviors
• What do holistic explanations of behavior include?

  All interacting factors affecting behavior
• What is the focus of idiographic investigations?

  Rich, detailed information about individuals
• What are levels of explanation in psychology?

  • Explanations vary from lower (fundamental) to higher (holistic) levels
  • Lower levels focus on basic components
  • Higher levels consider multiple interacting variables
• How might different scientists explain the growth of a plant?

  Using various levels of explanation
• What might a social psychologist say about a violent criminal's aggression?

  It results from cultural factors and peer influence
• How would a behaviorist explain aggression in a criminal?

  As learned responses reinforced by rewards
• What do biological psychologists suggest about aggression?

  It is influenced by brain structures and neurochemicals
• How do schemas relate to aggressive behavior?

  They are formed from rewarding aggressive experiences
• What role do family and peers play in aggression development?

  They shape the environment for learning aggression
• What is a criticism of reductionism in psychology?

  It may ignore the complexity of human experience
• What is an emergent property in the context of reductionism?

  Complex features arising from simple interactions
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of reductionism and holism?

  Advantages of reductionism:

  • Identifies individual variables for testing
  • Establishes cause and effect relationships
  • Empirical methods enhance scientific respectability

  
  

  Disadvantages of reductionism:

  • Ignores multiple interacting causes
  • Oversimplifies complex behaviors
  • May lead to loss of meaning in explanations
• How has a reductionist approach benefited psychology?

  It has led to effective treatments like drug therapies
• What is a limitation of viewing the brain as a computer?

  It overlooks emotional and reconstructive aspects
• What do holistic approaches emphasize in research?

  Gathering meaningful information from multiple factors
• What is the purpose of the psych Boost flash card app?

  To test knowledge with multiple choice questions
• What resources does the psych Boost app offer to patrons?

  Exclusive exam tutorial videos and resources
• How many multiple choice questions does the psych Boost app include?

  Over 1,500 questions
• What is the focus of the next psych Boost video?

  Idiographic and nomothetic investigations
• What is the main argument of reductionism?

  The simplest explanation is the best one
• What does parsimony refer to in reductionism?

  The principle of simplicity in explanations
• What is biological reductionism?

  Simplifying behavior to biological variables
• What is environmental reductionism?

  Explaining behavior through stimulus-response mechanisms
• What is machine reductionism?

  Using computer analogies for brain function
• What is the role of reinforcement in behavior according to behaviorists?

  It strengthens behaviors through rewards
• How do neurotransmitters relate to behavior?

  They influence mood and behavior patterns
• What is the significance of dopamine in behavior?

  It is linked to pleasure and reward
• How do schemas affect behavior according to cognitive psychology?

  They shape interpretations and responses to situations
• What is the relationship between social context and aggression?

  Social context influences the development of aggressive behavior
• What is the importance of considering multiple causes in behavior?

  It provides a more comprehensive understanding
• How does reductionism contribute to scientific respectability in psychology?

  By allowing objective testing of variables
• What is a potential downside of reductionism in explaining relationships?

  It may overlook the uniqueness of individual experiences
• What is the significance of emergent properties in psychology?

  They highlight the complexity of human experience